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CONTENTS
P L AY E R S’ E D I T I O N
M AY 2 0 21
VOL. 24,
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
28 All In
6
Young player is committed to horses and polo
NO. 9
Association News USPA Bulletin Horse feature
32 In Sync
14 Instructors Forum
Team effort earns Scone Gold Cup title
By Martin Estrada
16 Ask an Umpire 18 Equine Athlete
38 All-American BTA/The Villages takes Women’s Open
By Gwen Rizzo
20 Polo Scene
News, notes, trends & quotes
M AY 2 0 2 1
24 Polo Development 26 Intercollegiate/Interscholastic 42 Polo in the Pampas
OUR COVER Ryan Kerley is making waves on the polo field in California. Photo by
by Lucas Noel
60 Calendar 62 Yesteryears
Kerri Kerley California’s Rising Young Star
46 Polo Report The Villages Insurance Wins Women’s Spring Tournament
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2 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
P L AY E R S’ E D I T I O N THE
OFFICIAL MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE
UNITED STATES POLO ASSOCIATION
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©Copyright 2021 by United States Polo Association.. No part of this issue may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic or electronic process without written permission of the publisher. Paul Brown illustrations are ©2018 and are reprinted by permission of Paul Brown Studios, Inc., P.O. Box 925, Hedgesville, WV 25427. Subscription rates: $45/one year, $78/two years. Other countries (air mail), $78 drawn on U.S. bank/one year, $144 drawn on U.S. bank/two years. (GST:134989508). Subscription problems call (561) 968-5208. VOL. 24, No.9 POLO Players’ Edition (ISSN #1096-2255) is published monthly by Rizzo Management Corp. for U.S. Polo Association, 9011 Lake Worth RD, Lake Worth, FL 33467. Periodicals postage paid at West Palm Beach, FL and additional mailing offices. (USPS: 079-770). POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Polo Players’ Edition, 9011 Lake Worth RD, Lake Worth, FL 33467. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement No. 40612608. Canada Returns to be sent to Imex Global, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2.
4 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
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U S PA B U L L E T I N
Membership Benefits As a USPA member, you may be unaware of the many benefits available. The following is a list of what you receive when you join the USPA: •USPA member card and decal •Subscription to Global Polo TV •Subscription to “This Week in Polo” weekly enewsletter •Subscription to Polo Players’ Edition magazine •USPA Rulebook and Blue Book •Personal excess liability insurance •Accident and excess medical insurance •Discounts on U.S. Polo Assn. and Nantucket Whaler clothing •Discounts through NTRA Advantage from John Deere, Sherwin Williams, Office Depot and Big Ass Fans •Discounts from Legacy Building Solutions, Daktronics, TentCraft, Sterling Cut Class and Prize Possessions Questions about member benefits? Email Membership and Handicap Director Lindsay Dolan at ldolan@uspolo.org. Equine Welfare Tip Line The USPA would like to make members aware of the anonymous tip line for reporting equine abuse and neglect. The Equine Welfare Committee encourages anyone making a report to first reach out to local authorities, such as animal control or the police, to report the issue. If you would like to 6 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
also report to the USPA, please provide as much detail as possible on the voicemail. Be sure to include the city and state the horses are located in; the name of the person responsible for them, if known; how many horses are involved; and any information you think is pertinent. If you are willing to be contacted for additional information, you may leave your name and phone number, which will be kept confidential. The anonymous tip line number is (866) 563-5534. Reporting forms can also be found online at uspolo.org and may be sent by email to equinewelfare@uspolo.org. COVID-19 Relief Package Intercollegiate Equine Welfare Relief Program As the country continues to face the COVID-19 global pandemic, there are likely to be horses within the USPA intercollegiate community that require distress relief. USPA members at intercollegiate clubs that struggle to maintain proper upkeep of their horses and have fallen into desperate need of assistance will be able to apply for help through the Intercollegiate Equine Welfare Relief Program in order to provide their horses proper nutrition. Program Overview: •USPA to provide funding for the feeding of horses owned by intercollegiate polo provided there is proof the USPA member and/or their horses are in distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. •USPA Intercollegiate Equine Relief Program Subcommittee may use a variety of resources to
U S PA B U L L E T I N
determine if there is a true necessity, which may include member’s or club’s most recent bank statement, feed bill, the Henneke Body Condition Score, other player member’s references, or a veterinarian’s note. Please Note: This program is not intended for individuals seeking financial support feeding their personal horses. This is designed for USPA Intercollegiate Program horses participating in intercollegiate polo. Criteria: • Intercollegiate Equine Welfare Relief Program applicant must be a USPA member or an active or provisional member club in good standing. • Intercollegiate Equine Welfare Relief Program request must be for horses that are owned by the intercollegiate polo team within the last year. • Priority will go to programs who are student run and where the horses are not used for other programs (i.e. interscholastic teams, club events). To take advantage of the USPA COVID-19 Intercollegiate Equine Welfare Relief Program complete an application on uspolo.org. Tournament Stimulus Package As the country continues to emerge out of the COVID-19 crisis, it is important for USPA member clubs to continue playing polo and hosting USPA tournaments and events. These events help support the club’s activity as well as provide opportunities to support the polo community. The board recognized
the need to continue to support clubs during these times and approved the extension of the USPA Polo Tournament Stimulus Package through 2021. Eligibility & Criteria • Available for USPA member clubs for two USPA tournaments held in 2021 at each club. Tournaments eligible under the COVID-19 USPA Tournament Stimulus Package include: • All USPA outdoor events (circuit, national, reoccurring annual sanctioned, National Youth Tournament Series) with an upper handicap limit of 12 goals or below. • All USPA arena events (circuit, national, reoccurring annual sanctioned) • Tournaments must have a minimum of four teams competing in order to be eligible. Team rosters to be verified two weeks prior to securing TSP benefits. • Clubs that have only one USPA tournament scheduled are eligible to participate in TSP, and if they wish to take full advantage of the TSP, they may apply for an additional circuit or national (pending availability) tournament through the normal approval process (i.e. circuit governor approval for circuit events and Tournament Committee/board approval for national events). • Clubs that currently have not been awarded a USPA tournament and wish to take advantage of the TSP may apply for circuit or national (pending availability) tournaments through the normal approval process (i.e. circuit governor approval for circuit events and Tournament Committee/ board POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 7
U S PA B U L L E T I N
•Umpires: USPA will provide one professional umpire for the two tournaments (up to 10 consecutive days per tournament) at no cost to the club. •Prize Money: $2,500 in prize money per tournament, no match required. All prize money must be awarded to the winning teams participating in the tournament upon completion of the event. To take advantage of the COVID-19 USPA Polo Tournament Stimulus Package, complete the application form found on uspolo.org.
approval for national events). • Clubs hosting new USPA-sanctioned tournaments and/or USPA national and/or circuit tournaments in addition to their TSP-qualified tournaments may do so subject to normal applicable USPA fees and benefits. • USPA reserves the right to reschedule any tournament. • Umpires are subject to availability. • USPA prize money may not be used for other tournament or club expenses or for subjective awards, including, but not limited to, Best Playing Pony or Most Valuable Player. • Clubs participating in the matching prize money program are not eligible for TSP.
Women’s East Coast Open & Handicap Westchester Polo Club is pleased to announce registration has opened for the 3rd annual East Coast Open (14 to 20 goals) and East Coast Handicap (8 to 12 goals) Women’s Polo Championships from July 27 to Aug. 1. Each tournament will offer $2,500 in prize money with the semifinal rounds of both tournaments hosted by Myopia Polo Club (South Hamilton, Massachusetts) and the finals by Westchester Polo Club (Newport, Rhode Island). Finalist prizes, Most Valuable Player and Best Playing Pony recognition will be awarded in each tournament. Each tournament will feature top level teams competing for the prestigious Sunny Hale and Anne Hutchinson silver trophies. The first four teams in each tournament to register by Thursday, June 24, will receive official team jerseys sponsored by USPA Global Licensing Inc. The tournament registration deadline is Monday, July 19, at 5 p.m. ET or sooner if the team limit is reached. Entry form, requirements, schedule, tournament fees and details can be found at nptpolo.com. Players seeking to connect with other players to form a team are encouraged contact Agnes Keating at agnes@nptpolo.com or (401) 8477090 for more information.
For two eligible USPA tournaments held at the USPA member club the COVID-19 USPA Polo Tournament Stimulus Package includes: •Tournament fees waived: for USPA national, circuit or currently approved sanctioned tournaments. •Trophies: Clubs will either be provided trophies by the USPA (i.e., all National Youth Tournament Series events and select national events) or they will be Published by the United States Polo Association reimbursed up to $500 for Offices at 9011 Lake Worth Rd., Lake Worth, Florida 33467 • (800) 232-USPA circuit and sanctioned Chairman: Stewart Armstrong President: Tony Coppola tournaments and up to $1,200 Secretary: Charles Smith Treasurer: Steven Rudolph for national tournaments 8 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
U S PA B U L L E T I N
Varsity Letter If you are an interscholastic player who competed in the I/I tournament season this year, along with completing 100 hours in the saddle, participating in four I/I games, and staying in good academic standing, you are eligible for an Interscholastic Varsity Letter! For more information go to the interscholastic page on uspolo.org or contact Ali Davidge at adavidge@uspolo.org. In the event a team is not able to complete the regular season games requirement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students may apply for a varsity letter waiver. Submit waivers via your coach directly through email to I/I staff explaining the hardship. I/I staff will review and send to the committee for final approval. Scholarship Program Are you planning to play on an intercollegiate polo team next season? Six $4,000 scholarships are available through the USPA Intercollegiate Scholarship Program. Requirements can be found on uspolo.org. Applications will open in April. Contact Amy Fraser at afraser@uspolo.org for more details. Challenge Cup Circuit Winners Congratulations to the following teams for their wins at their respective I/I Challenge Cup tournaments: Northeastern Circuit—Tinicum Park (Erwinna, Pennsylvania) Central Circuit—Houston Open (Houston, Texas) Central Circuit—Houston Girls (Houston, Texas) Southeastern Circuit—Aiken Girls (Aiken, South Carolina) Eastern Circuit—Marlan Farms (Freeland, Maryland) Northeastern Circuit—Myopia (South Hamilton, Massachusetts) Pacific Coast Circuit—South Bay (Gilroy, California)
Pacific Coast Circuit—Orange County (Silverado, California) Northeastern Circuit—Gardnertown Open (Gardnertown, New York) Northeastern Circuit—Gardnertown Girls (Gardnertown, New York) Good luck to all of the teams competing in the upcoming I/I Challenge Cup events! Virtual Tournament Regional Winners Congratulations to the regional winners for the USPA Virtual Tournament of Champions: Skidmore College, University of South Carolina-Aiken, Oklahoma State University and Oregon State University. Regional winners will be joined by wildcards University of Virginia and Montana State University at the national tournament. National Interscholastic Rescheduled The Open and Girls National Interscholastic Championships have been rescheduled. The Open National Interscholastic Championship will be played May 12-16 at the Virginia Polo Center located in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Girls’ National Interscholastic Championship will be played May 18-23 at New Bridge Polo Club located in Aiken, South Carolina. Participating teams will be announced at a later date. NYTS Qualifiers The National Youth Tournament Series season is off to a great start. The NYTS Qualifier schedule is available on uspolo.org and is updated regularly. Players interested in participating in an NYTS tournament, please contact the club directly. Players born after 1/1/2002 with a minimum minus-1-goal handicap are eligible to participate. USPA clubs in good standing are welcome to host an NYTS Qualifier. Clubs interested in hosting a tournament, please email NYTS@uspolo.org. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 9
U S PA B U L L E T I N
The Painted Polo Horse Dawn Jones’ Pretty Bird Woman
DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS.COM
by United States Polo Association
Pretty Bird Woman
A vision on the polo field with her flowing mane whipping in the wind, Pretty Bird Woman’s (Treasured Too x Truly Miss Kirk) tobiano coat instantly conjures up images of the wild painted ponies of the American West, standing out in every sense. Born on the hallowed grounds of the Battle of the Little Bighorn at the base of the Little Big Horn River, Pretty Bird Woman was discovered—much like a living historical relic—by Dawn Jones on invi-
10 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
tation from Chuck Real Bird of the Crow Indian Nation. Captivated by her beauty, loving personality and the history of her Native American heritage, Dawn and husband Tommy Lee Jones have owned Pretty Bird Woman for almost 17 years with the mare just celebrating her 21st birthday. Resolute and fearless in all her endeavors from the high-goal field to the Hollywood movie set, Pretty Bird Woman carries within her the spirit of her namesake, Chuck Real Bird’s late sister. Complimented for possessing a speed and bump, which has often caught others off guard, Pretty Bird Woman’s journey from the battlefield to the polo field was a natural progression. Sired by the World Champion Paint running horse and a descendant of the famous Quarter Horse Easy Jet, Pretty Bird Woman has received her own recognition by the American Paint Horse Association for outstanding running ability. Entrusted to other players, including 8-goaler Sarah Wiseman in the 2018 U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship and Danielle Lussi in the 2020 Texas Women’s Open, Pretty Bird Woman once again took the field for Lussi’s U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship debut with Polo Gear Coffee Company. Bonding with the mare over the course of her three-year intercollegiate career (2012-2014), Lussi met and learned to play polo on Pretty Bird Woman during Harvard Polo clinics hosted annually by Tommy, a university alum, at his San Saba ranch in Texas. Giving to the sport in every capacity, Pretty Bird Woman’s unexpected offspring T-Bird is among the horses, which have been donated by the Jones’ to the men’s and women’s Harvard polo teams. Playing together in Florida, Argentina and Texas over the years, Lussi and Pretty Bird Woman reunited for this year’s U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship, competing at the highest level of women’s polo before the mare’s retirement. How did the mare get her name? Shawn Real Bird: She was named after my father, Chuck Real Bird’s oldest sister Martha Real
Bird—Little Light. My Aunt Martha’s Crow Indian name was Pretty Bird Woman. In the Crow culture when a deceased relative’s name is bestowed to a descendant this individual will receive good fortune, luck, wisdom and prosperity. This cultural tradition was transcended to the naming of the mare Pretty Bird Woman and because of this name she has had good fortune, luck, wisdom and prosperity in the racing industry. How did you come to own the mare? Dawn: Tommy Wayman invited my husband to participate as a judge in the World Championship Indian Relay Race at the Sheridan WYO Rodeo and there we met Chuck Real Bird, who was an organizer. Shortly after attending the event, Chuck Real Bird invited us to go on a trail ride from the infamous Crow’s Nest to the site of the Battle of Little Bighorn in Montana. We took our time and arrived to Chuck’s home by dark, never seeing the battlefield in daylight. Chuck invited me to return anytime to visit his home and see the battle site and I promptly accepted. When I returned, I met Pretty Bird Woman and her equine family who had been bred and raised by the Real Birds like family members. I was really astonished at how loving, sweet and beautiful the horses were. Pretty Bird Woman had great confirmation, a short back and a stocky hind end, which I really liked. I came home and I couldn’t wait to tell my husband how excited I was about Pretty Bird Woman and Miss Red Earth, two of the mares I had seen. I told him I really wanted to take another look and I thought one of them might be a good polo horse. Tommy suggested I take Victoria ‘Tori,’ my stepdaughter. I rode a couple of the horses and I really liked the way Pretty Bird Woman moved. She was just as calm as could be and she wasn’t afraid of anything. I called my husband and said I wanted this horse and Tori wanted her too, and because he can’t say no to his daughter, it worked out really well. What are her greatest strengths on the field? Dawn: She’s like having a tool in the toolbox for a specific purpose. She’s really good at marking and she likes it. She’s so flexible, she just turns inside of herself. You better have your butt screwed down on that horse when you take a turn because she will do it. She actually likes to bump on plays and sometimes that gets me into trouble because I have to ride her out of it. When you ask her for her seventh
KAYLEE WROE
U S PA B U L L E T I N
gear, it’s pretty damn fast so be prepared. She also stops really well, is very handy, powerful, and she certainly has a big heart.
Dawn Jones relied on Pretty Bird Woman in the 2019 Texas Women’s Open.
Danielle: Now that I’ve improved as a player, it’s amazing to be able to keep up with Pretty Bird Woman a bit more instead of letting her just lead the way. As soon as I get on her I feel so much more confident because I know that we can turn as fast as everyone else, if not faster. Her anticipation is incredible, so if you’re also thinking that fast then it really is so fun because you know you can compete with everyone else on the field. Pretty Bird Woman was the horse you fought for during clinics. You knew you could win every bump and you wouldn’t even have to ask her. She knew what she had to do, and she’d just take you to the play. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 11
DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS.COM
U S PA B U L L E T I N
Danielle Lussi played Pretty Bird Woman in this year’s U.S. Open Women’s Championship.
When do you bring Pretty Bird Woman onto the polo field? Dawn: She’s mostly used to mark other players and that’s her purpose. If I had to mark Nina Clarkin I think I’d probably use Pretty Bird Woman just because I’m confident with her and I know she can stop on a dime, turn instantly and maybe even get to the spot sooner. On Pretty Bird Woman I could delay my opponent for a split second to give my team a little extra time to regroup or get the ball. Her mission on the field is to neutralize good players for a brief 12 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
moment and just try to whittle away a little bit of time for her team—a split second here, a split second there. Why do you keep her mane long? Dawn: That was a rule that was made by Victoria on Day One because Pretty Bird Woman is a Crow Indian horse—and her mane will never be clipped. Victoria was 12 or 13 years old when we got Pretty Bird Woman and we’ve honored her rule and desire and we kind of liked the idea too. According to folklore, Crazy Horse was apparently riding a paint in
the Battle of the Little Bighorn, which I find intriguing. That’s meaningful for me because it hearkens to the past. If Crazy Horse had confidence on a paint during battle that says plenty.
DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS.COM
U S PA B U L L E T I N
Was there a specific moment when you knew Pretty Bird Woman would end up in your string? Dawn: It took a few years and we just took our time. We weren’t in a rush because we never really thought she was going to be this remarkable mare in polo. When Tommy was doing post-production on The Sunset Limited in 2010 we were staying in Los Angeles, California, and we went to Eldorado Polo Club [Indio, California] to play some green horses and she was part of that group. That’s when I realized, oh my gosh, this horse is remarkable; she took me everywhere. She would blow past other players if I asked her to and she would mark, keep her composure and stay collected nicely. That’s when I realized she had some talent. Has she been featured in any major motion pictures? Dawn: Pretty Bird Woman’s most famous appearance was in 2014 in a couple scenes of “The Homesman.” She also participated briefly in “The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.” In “The Homesman” she is in a scene with Hilary Swank and Tommy, who are on a wagon heading east. Pretty Bird Woman is being ridden by an American Indian. Around the film set she’s not afraid of anything. There’s the boom operator with a wind protector, cameras, cranes, lights—none of it phases her. She’s not afraid at all, she’ll just walk right up and hang out with the crew. Describe her personality. Dawn: One extraordinary thing about Pretty Bird Woman is that she’s incredibly friendly and seeks out companionship. She has always been happy to spend just as much time with a human being as another horse but also she’s learned to be very self-reliant and independent. A majority of horses I’ve encoun-
tered or spent time with from Argentina are not interested in having a bonding human friendship, whereas Pretty Bird Woman is very different. She just has a kind eye and will give whatever she can. She’s just the most adorable, kind, caring and giving mare. However, it seems like she’s in a no man’s land in terms of relationships with some of our horses. While Nicola and Fernanda love spending time with her, the other horses on the ranch are not very kind, and they pull on Pretty Bird Woman’s mane and tail, but she doesn’t retaliate. She’s tolerant, and I just really admire that about her. She’s a shining example of enjoying life no matter what it brings.
Pretty Bird Woman, 21, is a Crow Indian Horse so her mane has always been kept on her.
What are your plans for her future? Dawn: Tommy and I never really had any plans to breed Pretty Bird Woman on purpose. We have a couple of nice breeding prospects and it’s so tempting because they really are remarkable polo horses. I think there’s potential for offspring that would be beautiful to see continuing to play the sport in the future. Right now, this is Pretty Bird Woman’s chance to play a little bit more polo before she’s definitely retired and becomes a ranch horse for my husband. • POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 13
INSTRUCTORS FORUM
Devil is in the details Preparation and anticipation are key to winning polo games By Martin Estrada
There are two things very important to the game: preparation and anticipation, and they go hand in hand. Preparation begins before the first ball is hit. It doesn’t matter how high of a handicap you have, almost all players can benefit from coaching to improve on this. Without preparation and anticipation, you start late and play catch up. This happens at all levels of polo, and can lead to a goal for the other team. A lot of players won’t start moving until the ball is being hit, but that is already too late. For instance, in lower-goal polo, during a knock in, players on both teams will often face the horses in different directions and either stand or walk, waiting to see where the ball is going to go. If your team in knocking in, instead, come in closer to the hitter, around 30- or 40-yards away so it is easier for the hitter to reach you, and create momentum going forward. Plan ahead so you know what direction the hitter is going to go. But keep in mind, things can change. The hitter might see an opening to the left, so will decide at the last second to hit to that opening. You have to be ready. The team should come up with different scenarios so the hitter has a few options and can choose what works best at that time. If your team is defending the knock-in, pay attention. Be alert before the umpire says play. Anticipate where the ball is going to go and who will receive the pass. The ball moves very fast but if you stay with the opponent you are matched up with, you can have a pretty good idea of where his horse is going to go. It is important to follow the common polo concept of going to the man first before trying to get the ball. The idea is to be prepared as soon as the ball goes over the back line. The team should already be getting lined up before the hitter brings the ball in. If you start early, you have a better chance of finishing the play properly. If you start late, you will finish late. It doesn’t matter how fast of a horse you have. By the time you get to the man, it is too late. Trying to chase after someone is not a safe play. You are making the horse pay the consequence for your mistake. 14 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Get in position so you can win the middle of the field. That is, once you know where the opponent is going to go, position your horse to create a barrier. Get between the opponent and his target, positioning your horse parallel to your opponent’s horse but slightly ahead so the opponent’s horse’s head is about at your horse’s shoulder. There will be no need to bump because you already have him beat. The opponent will have no option but to try to go around you. I’ve seen players that were too late to a play but still chase after the opponent. They are running flat out and were beaten two plays back. They are going to get hurt making plays like that. When you are running after someone, the only play you have is a hook. Most of the time this type of player is running so fast, they can’t even execute a back shot. If they anticipate the play they won’t need to be chasing. They are better off starting early and having to wait for the opponent than rushing to catch up. That goes for hitting the ball too. The faster you swing, the less chance of making good contact with the ball. Get the mallet in position early, either for a full swing or a half swing, and you will have a much better way to make contact with the ball. Don’t wait until the last minute to get into position to swing. The swing is all about physics. With the proper swing and timing, you will make contact with little effort. If you hit the ball’s sweet spot (imagine a straight line down the middle) the ball will be lighter and will go farther. The best players hit the ball early in front of the horse and let physics do the work. Most people think hitting a polo ball is like hitting a baseball, requiring you to swing hard. Think of the mallet more like a brush. Don’t add force. If you slow down and make good contact, the ball will travel. The idea is to first control the horse, then control the mallet. You don’t need to use a lot of force and try to hit 100-yard shots. You will have a higher percentage when you can consistently hit 40 yards. Two 40-yard hits is 80 yards, three is 120 yards, and so on. You will have more success and a better
INSTRUCTORS FORUM
Be a barrier between your opponent and where he wants to go. Position yourself slightly ahead of him, going the same speed.
chance of controlling the ball when you can hit several shorter shots. When you are in range of the goal, don’t look at the ball, then the target. Focus on the target first; be like a laser from the target to the ball, then make your swing. Keep your head down, watching the mallet head make contact with the ball. The faster your horse is going, the more you will have to adjust your timing. If you practice different swings you will have multiple choices when it comes to making contact with the ball. Throw-ins are another play where preparation and anticipation are important. Most people just line up in a throwin and wait for the umpire to bowl in the ball to see what happens. Winning throw-ins is essential. If you think about it, if you come out of the throw-in with the ball, you are only about three good hits from the goal. So if your team wins more throw-ins, you are much more likely to win the game. There are many different tactics teams use to win throw-ins, enough to
write a book. It helps to watch some high-goal matches and analyze the different strategies teams use. I had a group watching an Open match and the players were bumping and trying to get into a winning position and the ball wasn’t even in play yet. You don’t need much to win or lose a play. Work with a professional to improve your anticipation and preparation. The time and effort will improve your polo. Details make a difference. A fourth generation polo professional, Martin Estrada is a former 6-goal player. A USPA certified instructor with over 30 years of teaching experience, he operates ME Polo Academy at Brandywine Polo Club in Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania, in the summer, and at his Cypress Polo Club in Wellington, Florida, during the winter months. He is also available for private lessons and clinics at clubs across the country. He can be reached at 561-723-3213 or by email at mepolo@aol.com. For more info go to mepoloacademy.org. • POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 15
ASK AN UMPIRE
Rule 25 The spirit of the rule is to keep the game moving By Dana Fortugno
Years ago, there was 6-goal player named Jimmy Bachman. He was known as the King of Low-Goal Polo. I sat next to him on a plane once when I was in college and we got a chance to chat about—what else—polo. His focus was winning, and he did lots of it. It really was something, considering he worked within what seemed to be a modest budget. Aside from being a very accomplished horseman, Jimmy figured out a way to wins games within the rules. It worked. It was no fun for anyone on the field, but he won. His signature play was to stop with the ball and
walk it all the way to goal (sometimes half the field). If a defender went to him, he would speed up and then pull the ball to the right and stop again and walk with the ball, over and over and over. Does any of this sound familiar? Everyone thinks Cambiaso invented this move, but it was Jimmy who was doing it when Cambiaso was still in grade school. The difference between the two is that Cambiaso had a much larger budget, better horses and used his team to block defenders. Both won all the time but kept the ball to themselves most of the time. No thanks, not my style, but these two fellas and all those who copy them are the reason for the Delay of Game rule (this is just my opinion and I may be 16 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
incorrect). The good news is that you can have your own opinion (if you play polo, you already have one, I have no doubt). When play stopped and games were reduced to a walk, nobody liked it. It became so bad, the USPA had to do something about it for the sake of polo. Most players like polo to be open and running, with the entire team participating. At first, the rule was that once the player slowed down, was not being ridden off or battling for the ball with a defender and was defended by a defender who was within two horse lengths, the player had five seconds to run with ball or hit away. The umpire would give a courtesy yell of “use it” after three seconds had elapsed. The “use it” was supposed to be temporary until the players got used to this new rule. Then, the one tap limitation was added to the rule a couple years later, meaning you could not tap the ball more than one time during the five seconds. That’s the rule we have now. We still say “use it” years later because most players still do not understand the rule. There are a few issues umpires struggle with when enforcing this rule: • What is a tap (does dragging the ball four feet count as a tap or two taps or more)? • What if the player can turn the ball to the left with two taps faster than the umpires can say “use it”? • When exactly is the player no longer being ridden off (when the horses are touching or do we need to see more significant contact)? • Some players do not want to hear “use it” because they say it distracts them. • After the slow down, the turn to the left, the one tap, and “use it” what if the ball falls in a hole? • After the slow down, the turn to the left, the one tap, and “use it” what if hitting the ball means hitting into a defender’s horse who just cleared the right of way or is clearing? • Is this rule enforceable in all levels the same way or should we consider the fact that a 10-goal
ASK AN UMPIRE
Rule 25—Stopping on the ball c. Delay of Game: A player in possession of the ball, marked by approximately 2 horse lengths or less by an opposing player, must keep moving if he or she is neither being blocked nor ridden off and therefore has the freedom to continue along the Right of Way. Should the player in possession of the ball either stop or reduce his or her speed to a walk, he or she may tap the ball only once and thereafter he or she (or any member of his or her team) must, within 5 seconds, either hit away or run with the ball. An infraction of this rule will result in a penalty against the team in possession of the ball. *Only a portion of Rule 25 is listed. To read the entire rule, go to uspolo.org*
player can turn the ball to the left several times faster than a 2-goal player can? We have already turned to the Rules Committee for guidance on these issues, and all these things are now being discussed so we can have a solution soon. Remember, the Rules Committee is responsible for interpreting the rules as well as writing them, not the umpires. The umpires just enforce the rules. If you don’t like a rule, email the Rules Committee members, not the umpires. Perhaps a simplification of the rule is the solution. Perhaps we need another piece to the puzzle in place to solve the issues, but again, that’s up to the Rules Committee. For now, just know that if you hear the umpire yell, “use it” then your next play needs to be to run with the ball or make a hit-away play. After you use it, you must keep making a positive play. In other words, you cannot run for two strides then slow down again immediately. You need to keep playing polo without stopping the game all the time. If you do that, you should not get a whistle. The intention of the rule
is obvious: keep moving with the ball. For some players, that seems to be a challenge of great proportions (at all levels). When we have these issues with a rule, we always turn to the spirit of the rule and keep that in mind while enforcing the rule. Of course, the spirit of this rule is to keep the game moving. Once the Rules Committee members have ironed out the issues, then we will follow their guidance to solve the problems with this rule. If there is any change in the rule or how it will be enforced, we will post it in the video rule book section of the website. Alternatively, if you have the patience, wait for the new rule book and look for the bold face print, which indicates all new portions that have been added. • POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 17
E Q U I N E AT H L E T E
Owner responsibility Options when you can no longer keep a horse By Gwen Rizzo
If you have the resources to grow old with your horses, consider yourself lucky.
Do you remember the excitement of getting your first horse? In polo, people generally have multiple horses but adding each new horse is always a fun and exciting time. Owning horses comes with certain responsibilities, including providing food, shelter and healthcare. These responsibilities take time, effort and money. What happens when you are no longer able to provide for your horses? I am sure many of us hope to watch our horses grow old until it is time for them to cross the Rainbow Bridge, but that is not always possible. If you have plenty of open space and the resources to keep your horses for their entire lives, consider yourself lucky. Many horse owners will eventually have to consider what to do when they can no longer care for their horses. United Horse Coalition, formerly the Unwanted Horse Coalition, was organized to promote education and options for at-risk and transitioning horses through industry collaboration. According to UHC, a horse ownership survey through the University of Maine found the average annual cost of owning one horse is nearly $4,000. This figure does not include the cost of boarding if you cannot keep the horse on your own property or labor if you can not care for the horse yourself. Considering horses can live into their 20s or even 30s, owning one horse could cost $100,000 over its lifetime. There are many reasons why you may no longer be able to keep a horse or horses, including changes in your financial situation or health, or the horse’s health. If and when that happens, as a horse owner it is your responsibility to find a positive end to ownership of the horse or horses. The UHC indicates that in most cases, you have four options when you are no longer able to keep a horse: selling it, donating or gifting it, surrendering it to a rescue/sanctuary or euthanizing it.
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A horse can be sold through a private sale or auction. As a seller, you are legally obligated to disclose any issues with the horse’s behavior or physical condition. A private sale may allow you to keep in touch with the new owner and even have an option to buy the horse back if your situation changes and the new owner decides to sell. Selling through an auction can be risky. While horses are sometimes purchased by buyers as riding horses, buyers are generally not vetted and horses can also be purchased by livestock dealers to be sold for meat. Worse, since slaughter is no longer allowed in the United States, these horses are often shipped in overcrowded trailers on long trips to Mexico or Canada without food or water. Horses can sometimes be donated to a non-profit for use such as a school horse, therapeutic riding horse or intercollegiate or interscholastic horse. In most cases, the horse would have to be useful to the program in order for the organization to accept the donation. Under certain conditions, the owner may be able to receive a tax write-off for the donation. In general, you cannot receive anything in return for donating the horse and the horse must be used by the charity for its stated purpose. The charity may also have to keep the horse for specific period of time. In some cases you may need an appraisal of the horse prior to donating it. Not all horses are suitable for every job. Some horses do not have the temperament to be used as a therapeutic riding or school horse. And not every polo pony will transition well into a school program. In these cases, an equine rescue or sanctuary may be able to offer assistance in finding a suitable home even if the rescue can’t directly take the horse. It is important to note, charities and rescue groups may be able to sell or give away a horse as it sees fit. There have been incidences, including within the polo community, where a horse owner has given a horse to an organization, even a retirement home, only to find out it was later sold or given away. The American Association of Equine Practioners developed guidelines for equine rescues and retirement facilities. If you choose to offer your
E Q U I N E AT H L E T E
horse to a rescue, you are encouraged to ensure the rescue operates by the AAEP guidelines. The UHC writes, “While the vast majority of Rescues and Sanctuaries are run honestly and with the horses’ best interest at heart, there have been reports of horses abused and neglected at a handful of facilities.” An unintended consequence of the slaughter ban in the U.S. was that the number of unwanted horses increased, leaving rescues overburdened. Many owners of horses with incurable medical conditions that couldn’t afford the cost of euthanasia and disposal, and others unable to care for their horses any longer turned to rescues to take them, and if rescues were unable to take them some horses were simply dumped, left to fend for themselves. Most rescues continue to be overwhelmed with more horses than they are equipped to handle. The global pandemic has made matters worse. Fewer people can afford to keep their horses and the ability of non profits to fund raise has been diminished, if not lost altogether. Retirement homes are another option, however most require you to pay a nominal fee for the horse’s care. Be weary of free retirement homes. Giving away a horse to any home can be fraught with danger. If a potential home sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Keeping a horse is a large expense so having someone offer to pay for your horse’s retirement should be met with skepticism. Unscrupulous individuals will often tell you what you want to hear in order to obtain a horse, particularly when it is being given away. It is never a good idea to offer a horse for free on places like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or even bulletin boards. Unsuspecting owners have been duped with stories like the horse is for a sweet, teenage girl to love. Children may even be in tow when the horse is picked up, but the horse may be put in the trailer and driven directly to a livestock auction where it eventually ends up in a slaughter house. This has even
happened to people trading in an older horse for partial payment on a new horse. Before agreeing to give a horse away, it is advisable to personally check out where the horse will be kept, speak to the new owner’s vet and even neighbors to ensure the prospective owners are capable of caring for a horse and have reasonable facilities for it to live in. One polo player shared a story about his experience giving a horse that was no longer able to play polo to a nice family for their daughter to trail ride. All was good initially, but after a year or so, the daughter lost interest in the horse. It was left in the backyard, and was no longer being cared for. The player received a call about the horse and went to see for himself. The horse was malnourished and severely neglected. He picked the horse up and had to euthanize it. He regretted giving the horse away. AAEP recently released its Euthanasia Guidelines, concurring with the American Veterinary Medical Association that euthanasia is an acceptable humane procedure once all available alternatives have been explored. Those guidelines say that in certain cases, euthanasia should be regarded as a responsible treatment option. It further supports euthanasia when that choice is best for the horse and in accordance with the role of the veterinarian as the animal’s advocate. The guidelines say a horse should not have to endure the following: • Continuous or unmanageable pain from a condition that is chronic and incurable • A medical condition or surgical procedure that has a poor prognosis for a good quality of life • Continuous analgesic medication and/or box stall confinement for the relief of pain for the rest of its life • An unmanageable medical or behavioral condition that renders it a hazard to itself or its handlers. For more information or resources, go to: unitedhorsecoalition.org. •
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POLO SCENE
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THANKS FORHEAD THE MEMORIES Danny Scheraga Subhead retires after three decades
DANNY SCHERAGA, executive director of the Polo Training Foundation, recently announced his retirement. Scheraga as been with the PTF for 34 years. He was replaced by Jennifer McLeavy at the PTF board meeting last month. Scheraga began his career coaching at Cornell, followed by 10 years teaching clinics and running the I/I program for the USPA, a position then funded by the PTF. In 1996, Scheraga was hired as PTF executive director to help the organization become more active in fundraising to enhance the quality and quantity of instruction nationally. “My life has been helping young players evolve as players and hopefully mature into adults, contributing to both polo and society in genDanny Scheraga eral,” Scheraga said. An amalgam of ideas from many sources, including Scheraga, has gone into developing programs to improve instruction. A few examples were an expanded I/I tournament program, more clinics, cosponsoring specific annual clinics and running a polo center at Brushy Creek for 10 years. More recently, an annual college fair was created for college-bound students to meet polo coaches from across the country. Throughout it all, the PTF has stayed fiscally solvent and the endowment has grown. “I could not have accomplished any of this without a great board of directors and an army of volunteers, many of whom were my mentors, that helped keep all the PTF programs running and had a commitment to the future of polo,” explained Scheraga. In the last few years, a National Junior Board was created to accumulate ideas from the PTF’s main constituents—polo youth. “They have been fantastic to work with and come up with some amazing ideas. I am truly touched by their support of and loyalty to the PTF,” said Scheraga. “It has been a thrill to watch young players grow. I have watched some of them as young players become successful in business and in professions from doctors and lawyers to professional players and instructors. I’ve also seen some players I first taught as adults and watched their children learn and now their grandchildren are playing.” Just this past February, the PTF held the Tackeria President’s Day Cup for youth 16 and older, and The Avendano Memorial for players 15 and under in Wellington, Florida. The events attracted 85 players, representing a resurgence in participation. Several children of participants from decades ago are now participating in PTF events and some are even helping to run the programs. There has also been a resurgence of participation in PTF events on the West Coast. Additionally, the PTF supports many annual clinics across the country, as well as international exchanges, which, on hold due to Covid-19, will resume soon. During Scheraga’s tenure, he served nine PTF chairmen, including George Haas, George Alexander Jr., Dan Colhoun Jr., Jesse Upchurch, Karlene Beal Garber, Orrin Ingram, Gene Burk, Ian Angus and Dick “Remo” Reimenschneider, who also retired at the board meeting last month. “Remo has been wonderful to work with and his tireless efforts helped to refocus the PTF, making it better prepared to meet current and future demands,” said Scheraga. “I wish I had room to mention
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COLLECTING POINTS Series provided sense of normalcy in difficult year
THE MID-CONTINENT Women’s Polo Series award for high-point individual was recently awarded to Stephanie Massey Colburn. Points were based on the amount of teams in a tournament, team ranking and MVP and Sportsmanship awards. The Mid-Continent Women’s Series spans multiple clubs and states to promote participation in women’s polo at every level. Colburn competed in USPA women’s tournaments at five different clubs in Texas and Oklahoma, winning the U.S. Women’s National Handicap on the Aspen Snowmass team. For earning the most points, Catena’s Bill Kraft presented Colburn with a beautiful Catena Swiss-made watch. “This past year, 2020, can be summed up curtly as a crazy year. For so many, it has been a year enveloped in hardship, loss, change, isolation and uncertainty. Through this time period, for me, polo and participating in the Mid-Continent ladies series was just a breath of fresh air as it allowed me to maintain some sense of normalcy,” explained Colburn. “Visiting so many different polo clubs (obviously while taking proper precautions), meeting new players, seeing familiar faces on and off the field, and the overall thrill of the game, for those four chukkers the rest of the world and what was going on did not seem to matter. These tournaments allowed me to experience the high we seek from playing coupled with, I hope, lifelong friendships.” Coming in second place was Morgan McBride, while tied for third places was Samantha Leach, KC Krueger, Lara Semmelmann, Morgan Tennant and Audrey Persano. “Receiving a Catena watch is truly an honor,” said Colburn. Bill Kraft and his support for women’s polo is unparalleled. I love how the Catena watch is such a beautifully crafted accent piece, yet is also so durable and functional for daily use.”
all the other board members and volunteers that have given their time and energy to help polo. I can only hope they know who they are and realize how much they are appreciated. The organization would not function without them.” Scheraga hopes to continue to stay involved, if and when he is needed. “Polo has been my life for 51 years and I hope to still contribute to this glorious sport in whatever way I can,” he said. McLeavy has been with the PTF for 10 years and shares Scheraga’s passion for helping young players grow through polo. “Jennifer has been an integral part of this wonderful organization for over a decade, and I have the utmost confidence that she will help lead the PTF to new heights in the quest to help young players grow and develop through polo,” Scheraga said. “She has great insight into the innerworkings of the organization and will make the PTF lighter, nimbler and better in the years to come.”
Catena’s Bill Kraft and Stephanie Massey Colburn
Jennifer McLeavy
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EPIC EXPERIENCE Kids enjoy horse games on polo ponies
ON JAN. 30, EPIC EQUINE EXPERIENCES/ Epic Polo Club hosted a movie-themed gymkhana for 20
PETER ACKER PHOTOGRAPHY
children, aged 7-14. The participants were students of the Epic Riding Academy as well as kids of Sarasota Polo Club members. All of the kids were riding polo ponies, mostly from the Epic polo string. Participants competed in one of three levels—The Littles, The Middles and The Big Kiddles—playing a variety of fun, sometimes silly, competitions, including polo bending, an egg & spoon race, barrels, a stockings race, a polo goal race, a dollar bill contest and others. A variety of fun prizes were donated by Beall’s Department Stores.
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INDIAN AWARDS Players recognized in grand ceremony
THE INDIAN POLO AWARDS were presented at a grand ceremony at the City Palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Guests enjoyed a spectacular performance by Bollywood actress Vaani Kapoor. Acclaimed performers Sharat Saxena and Sophie Chaudhay co-hosted the awards presentation. The awards included Lady Polo Player award to Khundongbam Habe Devi; Traditional Polo Player Award to Taorem Pradeep Kumar Singh; Army Polo Player to Naik Ravindra Mang; Polo Patron Award to Rajinigandha Achievers; Polo Trainer Award to Dfr Illyas Ali (Army category) and Mahmood Khan (civil category); Best Polo Pony Award to Blitz; Best Polo Ground to Jindal Panther Polo and Riding Club; Best Team (low goal) to the Army Services Corps; Contribution to Polo award to the Indian Army; International Polo Player Award to Matthew Philip Perry; Young Polo Player award to HH Sawai Padmanabh Singh; Emerging Lady Polo Player Award to AshBest Playing Pony ley Parekh; Promising Polo Player Award to Siddhant Sharma; Most Blitz Valuable Polo Player Award to 6-goal Simran Singh Shergill; Best Team (high goal) to Rajnigandha Achievers; Lifetime Achievement Award to HH Maharaja Gaj Singh II.
HH Maharaja Gaj Singh II
Ashley Parekh
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P O L O D E V E L O P M E N T, L L C
Elise Pardue Young talent on the West Coast By Hayley Heatley • Photos by Kerri Kerley
Elise Pardue is a regular on the USPA interscholastic circuit in California.
Palm tree-lined fields and expansive mountain views provide a picturesque backdrop for the winter polo season in Indio, California. Players young and old, new and seasoned call the desert their winter home, playing polo for four busy months. The sheer number of fields in the area allows for players of all levels to ride, train and compete on pristine fields. Desert native, Elise Pardue, is only 15 years old and already making a name for herself in both the junior polo programs and competitive tournament play. Pardue was introduced to the sport by her father at the age of 3, but at that time did not share his passion for the sport. 24 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
“I told everyone my favorite part of the game was getting off the horse,” she said. After a quick hiatus from the age of 6 to 9, she eventually found herself back in the saddle and quickly grew to love polo. As a high school student, Pardue found herself limited to after-school hours for riding. When the pandemic hit and her school transitioned online last spring, she eagerly took the opportunity to log more hours at the barn with her horses and improve her game. Her favorite mare, Rosy, has been a mainstay in her string for many years. “Rosy is an insanely handy mare and really gels with my playing style,” she said.
P O L O D E V E L O P M E N T, L L C
Pardue has been a regular on the USPA interscholastic circuit, competing at tournaments up and down the California coast. Her love of outdoor polo led her to participate in National Youth Tournament Series qualifiers simultaneously. This winter, Pardue was named an all-star at both the Empire and Eldorado Polo Clubs NYTS tournaments. Pardue says her most memorable polo experience so far has been playing with Memo Gracida. Last year, Pardue had the opportunity to play alongside former 10-goal player and polo legend, Memo Gracida, in the 8-goal league. Watching her on the field, it is evident she learned strategy, field awareness and mental control from Gracida. The 8-goal league was Pardue’s highest level tournament polo to date. The next item on her polo to-do list is to play as much as possible and travel to new clubs to play. Pardue is eager to go up in handicap and represent the West Coast in the National Interscholastic Championship. She also has her sights set on competing in the Women’s Pacific Coast Open against the best female players in the region. Her dream tournament would be traveling east to Wellington, Florida, to play the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship with Dayelle Fargey, Milly Hine and Hazel Jackson. In the long term, Pardue wants to be known as a strategic player and an advocate for women’s polo. “I would love to encourage other females to dominate and advance in the sport,” she said. •
Pardue hopes to one day compete in the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championships.
Pardue competed in the 8-goal league last season. POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 25
I N T E R C O L L E G I AT E I N T E R S C H O L A S T I C
An I/I Legacy Player, parent and coach Anne Branscum By Ali Davidage
Anne traveled to England in 1984 to compete in the firstever women’s exchange program.
Everybody has a story about how they got introduced to the sport of polo. Especially interesting are those who don’t come from a polo family, and the journey they took to get into the sport. Anne Branscum, née Broeder, coach of the St. Louis interscholastic team and Cornell intercollegiate polo alum, is no exception. Anne is working to rebuild polo in St. Louis while running a busy vet practice and raising her teenage polo-playing daughter Winifred. When you think of St. Louis polo, the first name that comes to mind is probably Dolph or Steve
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Orthwein. A polo family through and through, the Orthweins have brought many people into the sport, including Anne. As a teenager, Anne started working the Orthwein’s polo ponies during the week. As she grew more comfortable with the small nuances of polo, she started short working the horses and traveling with Steve Orthwein Sr. when he was 6 goals, one of the highest-rated amateur players. While Anne never picked up a polo mallet during her time grooming, the summer before her senior year, Danny Scheraga, then coach of the Cornell intercollegiate team, was picking up donation horses from Dolph and saw an opportunity. Danny encouraged Anne, with the Orthweins quickly hopping on board, to apply to Cornell and pursue playing intercollegiate polo. Anne took the jump and later that year was trying out for the Cornell polo team. With Danny and the Orthweins behind her, she joined the team and showed her natural athletic ability and horse sense. By her second year, she was a starter on a national championship team. The next two years, Anne led her to team to national titles, becoming one of the elite players in I/I history. Danny explained, “Anne was a heck of a player in college. I was traveling across the country with a trailer and stopped in St. Louis. I met Anne the summer before her senior year and started to recruit her to Cornell. Four years later, she had won three national championships and eventually was inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame for her contributions on the polo team. That team is one of two in Cornell history that had three national championship seasons.” After graduating, Anne took a break from polo to focus on vet school and start a family. As her daughter, Winnie, grew up, it wasn’t long before she started showing an interest in the sport. Anne happily dove right back in. She describes the turning point as the weekend she and Winnie traveled to Northwest Arkansas to compete in a women’s arena event (vs. Oklahoma State) and the first USPA middle school tournament. Both were successful and they took home the wins.
I N T E R C O L L E G I AT E I N T E R S C H O L A S T I C
While Anne was familiar with the intercollegiate program from her time at Cornell, the Middle School League was brand new, and she was excited to have an avenue for her daughter to explore the sport. As Winnie grew up and was able to compete at the interscholastic level, Anne jumped at the opportunity to share her knowledge and become the coach. “I texted Danny Scheraga, my coach at Cornell for two of three national championships, to tell him I could not believe how fun and rewarding it was to coach and watch the kids improve. It feels amazing to share my passion for polo with the high school players. Winnie won her first MVP last year in an Oklahoma women’s tournament and when they announced her name I cried proud, happy tears,” she said. This past year, Anne has embraced the opportunities and programs the USPA has made available to her team and club. With the help of the Orthweins and the PDI program, the club is building a new outdoor arena and has extended the footprint of the indoor arena to allow for full practices throughout the winter and rainy spring. Ginny Orthwein said, “The new arena will give us the chance to teach new players and host arena games and events. Danny [Orthwein] has stepped in to take over the operations and wants to wrap the people that grew up here around the club. We want to recreate the neighborhood feel that made St. Louis polo special for so many years.” Anne is committed to extending the long history of polo at St. Louis. The club has been a USPA member club since 1893 when the first charity match was held for Children’s Hospital. The first high school team was started 125 years later with Winnie in 7th grade. The oft-used Winston Churchill quote, “A polo handicap is a passport to the world,” certainly proved true for Anne. From learning at the heels of Dolph and Steve Orthwein, to traveling to the U.K. for the first-ever women’s exchange program in 1984, to living in Australia for six months after college, polo created many opportunities for Anne and she is working to carry that forward. She recently recalled driving to a game when one of her high school players found the USPA intercollegiate catalog in the backseat. What started as flipping through the catalog turned into a long discussion about colleges with intercollegiate polo and access to USPA and PTF scholarships for students looking to continue their polo careers past high school. It is moments like this that can open the door for yet another bright polo future! •
Anne with the interscholastic team she coaches, including daughter Winnie, second from right.
Anne, second from left, won three national championships while at Cornell and was inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame.
The Orthwein’s newlyrenovated indoor arena in St. Louis.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 27
All In Young player is committed to horses and polo By Gwen Rizzo
Horses are what Ryan Kerley loves most about polo. He has a special relationship with HiTop, his favorite and the one he counts on to start most games.
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KERRI KERLEY
Ryan Kerley, a third-generation player, is hoping to continue his family’s legacy as a professional in the sport. Ryan’s paternal grandfather, whom passed away when Ryan was just a few months old, was a professional polo player. Ryan’s dad, Mike Kerley started playing when he was 16. He has been involved with the sport in many capacities since then, including as a pro, horse trainer, polo manager, junior polo manager and property manager. Mike has worked for the Mannix’s Triangle Bar Farms for the past 25 years and Ryan’s mom, Kerri is a polo photographer so he has grown up around horses and polo. Ryan got his first pony when he was 4 years old and has enjoyed horses since that time. “I have always loved the horses. Every time we got a new horse, I wanted to go play it,” Ryan said. His father took him out of junior polo when he was 7 or 8 to focus on riding. “He took me to the track and just taught me how to ride. He wanted me to know how to ride before anything else,” Ryan explained. “He wanted people to look at me and say, ‘OK, this kid is a pilot, he knows how to ride over anything else.’” They likely do. His light hands and seat are hard to miss, and allow him to get along with almost any horse. A natural athlete, he also has great eye-hand coordination, which makes him an asset on the polo field. Born and raised in Indio, California, Ryan excelled in a variety of school sports throughout the years. In addition to polo, he also loves golf and played soccer for his high school. Ryan attended the local public school until last year when COVID-19 hit. Now in 11th grade, he is continuing online school, which allows him more time to focus on polo. He still would like to attend college, with an interest in business. On the polo field, Ryan has competed extensively in junior polo in both Canada and California, as well as National Youth Tournament Series games. Now he is playing 4-, 8- and 12-goal events. He has been on numerous winning teams and earned quite a few MVP awards along the way, including most recently in the 4 goal at Empire Polo Club. This season, he played the 8 goal with Bush League. “It was such a great team and so fun,” Ryan said. “I played with them for two months and we went far every time. ... it was a great group
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 29
JIM BREMNER
Ryan has earned several MVP awards, including this one at Empire this season.
KERRI KERLEY
Below: Ryan keeps the ball out of his opponent’s reach.
30 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
of guys ... and in the 4 goal it was another great group.” He is appreciative of each of the sponsors and pros he has gotten to play with and learn from, including Ulysses Escapite, Ryan Robertson, Jimmy Wright and Krista Bonaguidi. “I lived with Krista Bonaguidi for two months at Memo Gracida’s and got to know them both really well. [Memo] put me through the ringer, so that was fun. I learned so much. It was a lot of work but it was a great experience. I am glad I got to know Memo,” Ryan said. “Krista picked me up again and we won another bronze together.” Ryan says he admires Memo for his horsemanship and how he can make a horse dance. He also enjoys watching Camilo ‘Jeta’ Castagnola play. “He’s so fun to watch and so fast,” he said. Grateful for the help he has gotten, he can’t say enough about all that Fred Mannix has done for him and his family. “Half my string is horses he shipped over from Argentina. He has put in so much effort to help me out,” Ryan explained. “He has helped me out with horses and opportunities. ... He is just a great guy and is so generous.” Ryan is also fully supported by his family. His dad not only taught him how to ride and play, he is field side whenever he competes. “He’s my manager, horse trainer, vet, he’s everything. He is just the best he can be. Everything he does, he makes sure it’s for me, which I cannot appreciate enough,” he said. Ryan’s older sister Hope takes care of Ryan’s horses and her boyfriend Mitch also helps out and drives the horse trailer when Mike isn’t available. Ryan admits that it hasn’t always been easy getting along with this sister and talking about horses because it was a competition between them. “We’ve grown close this past year and a half. Now she’s part of the team and is very supportive,” he said. “I hate to say it, but she’s the best groom ever. She knows what to do every single time. ... She takes care of the horses, puts poultice on and makes sure everything is tidied up in the barn. She’s awesome.” This summer, Ryan will be playing the 12 goal in Santa Barbara with the Farmers & Merchants team, along side Danny Walker, Matt Walker and Lucas Criado. Ryan’s dad will drive the horses to Santa Barbara and his mom will get the house set up for Ryan, Hope and Mitch. Then his parents will go back home and drive up on the weekends to watch him play. Their barn currently has 10 horses, including two that were recently brought in from pasture to get ready for the summer season and are on loan from a friend. Four of the horses have been shipped in by
KERRI KERLEY
Mannix within the past two years and his dad either trained or picked up the other four. They also have four green horses, all off-the-track Thoroughbreds, in pasture that will be ready for play next season. “My dad says they are the best horses he’s ever ridden and they look the part too,” Ryan said. Like most polo players, the family is always looking for new prospects. Ryan says his mom and sister shop online for horses and his dad has a friend at the track that contacts him if she finds a good prospect. Recently, the family celebrated the birth of their first home-bred. The broodmare was a horse Ryan’s dad bought for Hope a couple of years ago, but the mare developed arthritis in its hock and could no longer be ridden. They made a deal with Cotterell Farms in Idaho, to breed the mare to one of its studs. Cotterell kept the first baby, born last year, and the Kerleys got to keep the second baby born in late March. The family is enjoying the new bundle of joy. “I’ve never seen my dad so happy with a horse,” Ryan said. When pressed, Ryan says his favorite horse is probably his mom’s mare, HiTop (see Polo Players’ Edition, May 2019 edition), who he starts out on every game. “She’s amazing. There is not a smoother horse. She’s not the fastest but she is very
quick and she’s so flashy,” Ryan explained. He also likes his sister’s horse Kaliope, who he’s played for the last couple of years. “She’s a little rocket. She’s so consistent and just a shredder,” he said. But he admits it is hard to choose favorites with the quality string he currently has. When Ryan is not playing or doing school work, he also helps with barn chores. He said he is usually at the barn by 6 or 6:30 a.m. He helps clean the stalls and starts getting sets out by 7. He does whatever needs to be done in the barn, including feeding, then goes back to the house to do school work. He returns in the afternoon to take out more sets or ride singles, and helps clean the stalls and feed. He does homework in the evenings after barn chores are done. He also tries to keep fit, spending time working out in the family’s home gym. Ryan hopes to continue in the sport, eventually making a career out of it, and later, start a family to enjoy the sport with him. For now, he looks forward to the opportunity to play with a great team this summer, and enjoy some golf on the off days. What about doing the things most 17 years olds are doing? “Honestly, I’d much rather be in the barn than anything else,” he admits. •
When Ryan was young, his dad worked with him on the track to teach him how to ride well.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 31
32 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
In Sync Team effort earns Scone Gold Cup title
Scone’s Adolfo Cambiaso puts pressure on Tonkawa’s Sapo Caset in the final.
DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS.COM
By Gwen Rizzo
Scone came away the winner in the USPA Gold Cup, the second leg of the Gauntlet of Polo, March 28, at International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. Nine teams, divided into two brackets, competed in playoff games from March 8-21. After two weeks of bracket play, Tonkawa and Park Place topped Bracket 1, while La Indiana and Scone topped Bracket II, advancing them to the semifinals. Tonkawa was the only team to arrive at the semifinals undefeated. It faced La Indiana in the first semifinal match. Tonkawa flexed its muscles early, doubling up La Indiana in the first two periods, 4-2 and 6-3. It increased its lead to six, 10-4, at the half. Tonkawa maintained the difference through the fourth period before La Indiana rallied, scoring four unanswered goals and getting back in the game, 11-9, going into the sixth period. After swapping Penalty 2s, La Indiana scored two more unanswered goals to knot the score and force overtime. Fran Elizalde scored the golden goal to send Tonkawa into the final. The second semifinal pitted Scone against Park Place. It was a close game throughout with the teams level after the first three chukkers: 1-1, 3-3 and 4-4. Scone took the lead in the fourth with a pair of unanswered goals but Park Place outscored Scone, 21, in the fifth to come within one, 7-6, going into the last seven minutes. Park Place tied the match early in the sixth but Scone responded with two. Park Place was awarded a Penalty 1 to come within one at the seven-second mark but time ran out and Scone hung on to advance. The final was played four days later. About a minute into the first chukker, Scone was awarded a Penalty 1, perhaps signaling what was to come for Tonkawa. Another minuted later, Scone capitalized on a broken knock-in, with Poroto Cambiaso POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 33
GLOBAL POLO ENTERTAINMENT
USPA Chairman Stewart Armstrong congratulates Scone’s David Paradice, Poroto Cambiaso, Peke Gonzalez and Adolfo Cambiaso.
finessing a nearside neck through the posts. Tonkawa was awarded a Penalty 4 halfway through the chukker but Scone stopped Caset’s shot and sent it over its own backline. Caset sent the ensuing Safety wide. Cambiaso also missed on a Penalty 4 attempt a minute later. With a little over a minute left, Poroto Cambiaso found the goal after a 280-yard run. Tonkawa was whistled on a play as time ran out, giving Scone a Penalty 3 to start the next chukker. Peke Gonzalez converted the Penalty 3 for Scone, giving the team a 4-0 lead. Caset put Tonkawa on the board after running to goal with Poroto Cambiaso in hot pursuit. At the halfway point, Caset, riding a rocket, out ran the pack to goal but the ball went wide. Cambiaso converted two more Penalty 4s while Tonkawa was kept off the board. Gonzalez battled for the ball, passing to Adolfo Cambiaso but what seemed like a sure goal, got away from him and went wide, ending the second chukker, 6-1. Tonkawa’s struggles continued. Fran Elizalde knocked-in to a waiting Caset, hoping to get a run started but the ball went over the boards. Instead, Scone was given the ball and Adolfo Cambiaso didn’t waste the opportunity, passing to Gonzalez for another tally. Tonkawa was awarded a Penalty 3, which Caset eased between the posts. Both teams had
34 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
missed goal attempts until Caset took the ball 90 yards with Elizalde getting the last touch to ensure it crossed the goal line. Spectators were hoping this was the icebreaker Tonkawa needed, but Scone was unyielding. Less than a minute later and with just seconds left in the half, Poroto Cambiaso stole the ball and passed to his father, who made one short cut shot through the posts for an 8-3 lead. This was not the game anyone was expecting. The teams were well mounted so everyone was hoping for a fast, open and close game. Instead, Scone dominated with most of its players constantly shifting from offense to defense. David Paradice covered the opponents like a blanket and instead of the young pros being used as battering rams to open holes for the high-goal pro so often seen, Adolfo Cambiaso was getting the ball to Poroto and Gonzalez often. Tonkawa would try to cover a hitter, who would promptly pass the ball to an open teammate, leading the defender away from the play. Tonkawa tried harder to defend, sometimes double teaming, but that just left another Scone player loose to pick up the ball. “My role is to open up space for them, but also we have a system where we rotate a lot. I think we’ve been doing well and hopefully we can keep it up ...”
DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS.COM
Best Playing Pony Caña Monjita Coronada gives her all to Adolfo Cambiaso in the final.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 35
GLOBAL POLO ENTERTAINMENT
Scone’s Peke Gonzalez covers Tonkawa’s Sapo Caset.
said Gonzalez. “[Adolfo] pushed us, me and Poroto, on the field to be consistent with our attitude, keep on going, be tough, not lose any plays and be consistent all the time.” The halftime break didn’t bring a big change in the game as most had hoped. Sapo shot to goal early in the fourth but over cut the ball, sending it wide. He redeemed himself with an incredible 90-yard shot through the posts at the five-minute mark. Soon after, Elizalde took possession of the ball with Adolfo on his hip, giving fans hope that the momentum was beginning to swing in Tonkawa’s favor but luck was not on his side. Elizalde lost the head of his mallet and the ball went outside the posts. Conversely, everything seemed to be going Scone’s way. Poroto got a hold of the ball along the boards, left it for his dad, ran towards goal, took the pass and scored. Later, Caset got the ball, passed to Elizalde but the ball took a bad bounce and a teammate caught the umpires’ whistles. Adolfo made the most of the Penalty 5, aiming at the goal from 135 yards, making two shots and connecting. Elizalde tried in vain to back the bouncing ball out of the goal, but the Scone lead swelled to six, 10-4. Tonkawa started the fifth with Elizalde passing to Caset, but he sent the ball wide yet again. Escobar
36 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
managed a bouncing pass from Elizalde two minutes later and sent the ball to goal. But once again, Scone responded. Adolfo shot from the boards under two horse’s necks, threading the needle. Less than a minute later, Poroto necked to goal to increase the difference to seven. A Tonkawa foul in the opening seconds of the sixth gave Scone a midfield hit, which it made the most of. Cambiaso hit to Gonzalez to finish it off, putting the team up by eight, 13-5. At that point the game was out of reach for Tonkawa. The team wouldn’t let up but its struggles continued. Caset took the ball out of the lineup and ran uncontested toward goal but couldn’t finish it off. Elizalde was there for cleanup, but was fouled. The team received a Penalty 1. Scone was whistled twice more in the next few minutes, giving Tonkawa a Penalty 2, then a 3. Caset made the most of them, to cut the difference to five with half a chukker left. In the last 90 seconds, Caset drove to goal but the ball went wide. Elizalde followed up with a goal, dodging traffic to hit the target. Elizalde won the next throw-in, passing to Caset who was out front by himself. Caset passed the ball through the posts with just seven seconds on the clock. Scone had the win, 13-10.
DAVID LOMINSKA/POLOGRAPHICS.COM
Scone’s Poroto Cambiaso gets away from Tonkawa’s Fran Elizalde on the way to scoring one of four goals in the final.
MVP honors went to 15-year-old Poroto Cambiaso while Best Playing Pony honors went to Adolfo Cambiaso’s Caña Monjita Coronada, a flashy 9-yearold bay mare. The win was Adolfo Cambiaso’s 15th Gold Cup title in 30 years. Scone went home with the $100,000 prize money, while Tonkawa settled for $25,000. It was the first Gold Cup win for Poroto Cambiaso, though likely not the last. “It’s a pleasure to play with Scone and incredible to play with my father,” he said. “Winning with my dad is an opportunity that very few people have so I am very grateful for that, and I really have to thank David Paradice.” The Australian-born Paradice is enjoying his time with the team. “To play with the Cambiasos and be part of this historical win is amazing,” he said. “I love the intensity, but it’s hard work, really hard. An older guy like me having the opportunity to play with some of the best in the game isn’t something that happens in other sports. It is great being told where to go on the field by the greatest player that’s ever played.” The team immediately shifted its focus to the U.S. Open. “The truth is the U.S. Open is the most important tournament so now we only have a little time to celebrate this win,” Poroto Cambiaso said.
Bracket I
Bracket II
Tonkawa David Hildebrand Lucas Escobar Sapo Caset Francisco Elizalde
22 3 4 5 10
Park Place Andrey Borodin Juan Britos Hilario Ulloa Matt Coppola
22 0 8 10 4
Aspen/Dutta Corp Timmy Dutta Lucas Diaz Alberdi Gringo Colombres Stewart Armstrong
21 4 6 8 3
Cessna Camp Campbell Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario Mariano Obregon Jared Zenni
22 2 7 7 6
Scone David Paradice Poroto Cambiaso Peke Gonzalez Adolfo Cambiaso
22 0 6 6 10
La Indiana Nico Escobar Jeff Hall Polito Pieres Michael Bickford
22 4 6 10 2
Coca-Cola Gillian Johnston Mackenzie Weisz Nico Pieres Julian De Lusarreta
22 1.5 4 9 8
Pilot Curtis Pilot Kristos Magrini Gonzalito Pieres Facundo Pieres
21 0.5 2 10 10
Santa Clara Will Johnston Felipe Vercellino Miguel Novillo Astrada Luis Escobar
22 2 6 9 5
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 37
Kylie Sheehan takes the ball, supported by KC Krueger, while Hazel Jackson and Mia Cambiaso try to catch up.
All-American BTA/The Villages takes Women’s Open By Gwen Rizzo • Photos by David Lominska/Polographics
BTA/The Villages was victorious in the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship, March 20, at International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida, avenging the 2020 defeat played just a month earlier. The all-American BTA/The Villages team (Paige Boone, Kylie Sheehan, KC Krueger, Tiffany Busch) fell to Hawaii Polo Life (Dolores Onetto, Pam Flanagan, Mia Cambiaso, Nina Clarkin) in the 2020 championship, which had been canceled last year due to COVID-19. The final was rescheduled for late February, when Hawaii Polo Life narrowly edged out BTA, 6-5. 38 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
A week later, the two teams met in the final of the Tabebuia Cup played at Port Mayaca Polo Club in nearby Okeechobee, Florida. Hazel Jackson took over for Nina Clarkin on Hawaii Polo Life, and the team went on to double up BTA, 6-3. But BTA doesn’t know how to quit. The women all played unselfish polo, working hard for each other every game, and didn’t look back. “This team plays with so much heart, so much dedication to the sport,” Busch said after this year’s final match. “It is a true honor to take the field with these ladies. We had an amazing coach, and after losing two other finals to the same team we were able
Ten-goal Hazel Jackson led Hawaii Polo Life with four of five goals.
to come back and win it.” After the Tabebuia Cup, Jackson stayed with Hawaii Polo Life for this year’s version of the Women’s Open. Five teams played off over a week at Port Mayaca Polo Club before the final was played at International Polo Club’s Field No. 1. In preliminary play, BTA/The Villages edged Polo Gear Coffee Company (4-3) and Iconica (3-2) while Hawaii Polo Life slipped Dundas (6-5) and Polo Gear Coffee Company (5-4). Dundas doubled up Iconica 63 in another match. In the semis, BTA/The Villages topped Iconica, 4-3, while Hawaii Polo Life defeated Dundas, 5-4. BTA/The Villages enlisted Tommy Biddle as coach. He remarked that the team was generally slow to start so in preparation for the final, he had them bring extra horses to stick and ball for 20 minutes prior to the final so when game time began, they would be warmed up and ready to go. Krueger also spent time practicing her penalty shooting, which proved valuable in the game. Hawaii Polo Life won the opening throw-in and brought the ball toward goal, Jackson necking it between the posts in the first 30 seconds. A flurry of errors by Hawaii Polo Life set up BTA/The Villages
with a trio of spot hits but they were unable to get through the Hawaii defense. Hawaii then was awarded a Penalty 2, but it went wide. Sheehan took control of the ball and aimed for goal, but it too went wide. Down to just over a minute in the chukker, Hawaii Polo Life was whistled for dangerous riding while it was knocking in. BTA was awarded a Penalty 2, which Krueger eased between the posts. Less than a minute later, BTA was awarded another Penalty 2
Tiffany Busch gives her horse a little love.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 39
Adolfo Cambiaso’s El Pico, played by Mia Cambiaso, was Best Playing Pony.
but this time it went outside the uprights. Early in the second, Hazel drove the ball to goal with Boone in hot pursuit. Boone executed a strong back shot, clearing the ball just before it passed the
BTA/The Villages’ Kylie Sheehan took MVP honors.
40 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
goal line. Hawaii was later whistled on another play, and BTA was awarded a Penalty 4 but was unable to convert it. Hawaii brought the ball to the opposite side of the field and Cambiaso, hustling to reach the goal, got around a Boone hook and shot but couldn’t connect. At the halfway mark, BTA fouled and Hawaii was awarded a Penalty 2. Jackson easily converted it to take the lead. Later, Sheehan got the ball down by the goal. It was stopped by Flanagan but Sheehan kept fighting and hit the mark with a nearside shot. Soon after, Jackson ran the ball to goal, blowing past Busch while Flanagan supported her by riding off Krueger. With just 30 seconds on the clock, Sheehan hit a tremendous 80-yard shot that landed just in front of the goal. Boone was there to get the ball through the posts. The half ended with the teams knotted, 3-3. The teams continued to battle in the second half. Hawaii moved the action to its side of the field. The ball was heading over the back line, but Flanagan’s well-placed back set the ball up for Cambiaso to score. A few more Penalty 5s in BTA’s favor kept breaking up the play. Then BTA was awarded a Penalty 2, which Krueger easily converted. The chukker ended with the teams level, 4-4. BTA started the last period with a spot hit. Busch sent it down field but it was intercepted by Jackson. Boone, under pressure from Onetto, stole the ball
from Jackson and headed to goal but couldn’t finish it off. Hawaii Polo Life was caught fouling again and BTA was awarded it’s fourth Penalty 2. Krueger hit the target to take the lead. Three minutes into the chukker, Jackson brought the ball close to goal but it got stuck in a divot. She circled around in traffic, got the ball out and finished the goal to tie it up. Yet another spot hit for BTA allowed it to get the ball within shooting range. Kylie sent it to Busch, who passed to Boone. Boone made a picture-perfect neck to give BTA the lead with under a minute left. The teams came back to the line-up but with just eight seconds remaining, Hawaii was whistled once again. Busch passed to Boone who took the ball to the boards as time expired. Kylie Sheehan was MVP and Adolfo Cambiaso’ El Pico, played by Mia Cambiaso, was Best Playing Pony. The gelding was recently purchased from Lindor Novillo. “This is definitely the most exciting win of my career,” Sheehan said. “We came back today really hungry and we felt really confident. We believed in
Coach Tommy Biddle celebrates with BTA/ The Villages’ Tiffany Busch, KC Krueger, Kylie Sheehan and Paige Boone.
Dundas Sarah Siegel-Magness Nina Clarkin Hope Arellano Olivia Uechtritz
22 2 10 7 3
Polo Gear Coffee Co. Dawn Jones Isabelle Parsons Gillian Johnston Danielle Lussi
22 6 8 6 2
Hawaii Polo Life Dolores Onetto Pamela Flanagan Mia Cambiaso Hazel Jackson
22 0 4 8 10
BTA/The Villages Kylie Sheehan Paige Boone KC Krueger Tiffany Busch
22 5 5 6 6
Iconica Maureen Brennan Clara Cassino Milly Hine Anna Coscia
22 5 8 6 3
each other and all four of us played our part on the team.” The all-American team is composed of local women. “I told them before we took the field and as we were coming off, it is an honor to play with all of them,” Boone said. “We won it as an all-American team and everyone gave it their all.” “We don’t travel the world and play polo; we run polo schools and clubs here in the U.S.” Krueger, a mother of two small children, added. “I think it’s a little more challenging for us, but we can come together and play with the best players in the world. It shows we are just as capable of winning. ... American women polo players are definitely on the rise!” BTA/The Villages was the only team without a player over 6 goals. The balanced line up proved to be a benefit. “One of the advantages of playing with the team we had is we are all pretty even,” Krueger explained. “Tiffany is obviously a very good Back, Paige is a great No. 1, but we had to cover. If Tiffany had to go, I can cover, and Kylie can cover and Paige can always cover. It is a great team dynamic.” Sheehan agreed. “The combination of us four is the best in the country right now. It’s just teamwork, believing in each other and staying positive,” she said. “We make each other play better. It’s a sign of a really good team.” Coach Biddle was proud of the foursome. “They played awesome. These girls were working and working. They stayed tough with their man. I’m just so happy for them,” he said. • POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 41
P O L O I N T H E PA M PA S
Showtime Arena-style Formula Polo takes hold in Argentina By Lucas Noel
Fast, entertaining and very easy to enjoy for those who are not experts in this sport. Formula Polo, a three vs. three contest, similar to arena polo, with a lot of excitement included was born in Buenos Aires and quickly began to spread to several countries until it developed its own World Cup. Argentina is the country where polo is played at the highest level. However, the beach version was never fully developed. It has always functioned as a summer advertising attraction rather than a truly settled championship. But its potential was always there. With that vision, in 2019, Formula Polo was born in order to promote the traditional modality on
sand with a fixed annual season. Its success was immediate. The key was the attractive social aspect. Located in the heart of Buenos Aires, in the Palermo neighborhood, its venue is located behind one of the most fun and popular restaurants in the city. Every night, diners come to Belisario Roldán to taste its dishes and meet celebrities from Argentina’s artistic, sports and political circles. In this way, this concept of a dinner night with polo friends in Buenos Aires managed to merge two fundamental pieces: what happens on and off the playing field. One of the essential points of the success of this contest is the adaptation of the rules so that everyone
Rules have been adapted to make them easily understood for the spectators. For example, teams don’t change goals.
42 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
P O L O I N T H E PA M PA S
The games are held behind a popular restaurant in Buenos Aires, with a birds-eye view of the action.
can easily understand them. More than 10 formations of three members per side compete in four seven-minute chukkers with the teams always attacking in the same direction. There is no change of direction after each goal and all fouls are penalties from the spot. The referee has at his disposal yellow and red cards to book and send off players just as is done in the most popular sport in this country and the rest of the world: soccer. Juan Bogo, director of referees for the league, admits that at the beginning they had to work on a progressive optimization of the rules. “The truth is that we had a hard time testing the rules. Although they are simple changes, the players had to adapt. But we developed it along with them. In the first matches of the tournament we had a much more complex set of rules and we were putting them into practice as the dates passed until we found the ideal set. Surely, it will continue to have modifications as, for example, it is also implemented in rugby, in order to speed up the game,” Bogo explained. In the same way regulations are taken care of and perfected, strict measures are also established for animal care. All the horses that arrive at the venue in Buenos Aires are checked daily by the veterinary team, that must approve
their participation in the matches. In addition, the discipline is totally rigorous in the face of any impact that a player’s horse may have. The layout of this competition is divided into two tournaments: the Apertura (Opener), which takes place between February and June, and the Clausura (Closer), which is held between August and December. July, traditionally the coldest month of the year in this part of the world, is a rest time for organizations, horses and players. Its diffusion through the broadcasting of the matches and its impact on social networks transformed it into an event that transcended the borders of Argentina. And that is where its new plan was born: the Formula Polo World Cup, scheduled for December as a preview of the Argentine Open. This global initiative includes teams from the countries where the league acquired a presence. In the first stage, United States, Mexico, Spain, France, Germany, England, Colombia and the Dominican Republic joined the event. Thanks to this response, the organization saw the potential and continued talks to include locations in Uruguay, Singapore, Dubai, Switzerland and Italy next year. “Formula Polo World Cup was born with the aim that all the champions of their respective POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 43
P O L O I N T H E PA M PA S
Players debate who is going to win and how on air prior to the game, like on a reality TV show.
Umpires can send off a player like in soccer and all fouls are from the spot.
countries can come to Argentina and live a week of pure sport,” said Fabián Rodríguez from IQ Sports Marketing, a company that developed the concept in South America. “Tuesday and Wednesday are tournament days, on Thursday [we’ll have a friendly]
44 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
asado and on Friday a Formula Polo Party [will be held] on the eve of the of the Argentine Open final where the players will enjoy the best match in the world. With all these ingredients, Formula Polo Week is an event that even allows a fruitful networking among all the players in the league.” This tournament is strongly designed from a marketing point of view. All games can be watched live through the PoloHUB+ platform and its broadcasts are enriched with the application of technologies such as GPS on horses, highspeed drones and live music. But there are also all kinds of extras to the show. One of the main ones is the debates before and after the matches with the players themselves. Pablo Sassone, official voice of the broadcasts, explains, “It’s like a live reality show. The players debate who is going to win and how they are going to set up the duel. And when it’s over, we interview them again and they tell us how things
P O L O I N T H E PA M PA S
Ten teams are competing in the event, played on Tuesday nights under the lights.
went and why things didn’t work out.” Formula Polo is played on Tuesdays and guests at the Roldán restaurant know if they book for that night they will have the sports show and will be able to meet the polo players up close once the match is over. “Contact with people is one of the best things. Finishing the game and being able to be in the restaurant with the people who come to cheer on the teams is a great plan,” explains Mariano Etcheverry, the league’s captain. “When we started, the teams wanted to know a little more about the event. They thought it was an exhibition, but as they signed up, they realized that everyone was getting more prepared every day. They came with their jerseys, they already kept their best horses and called up better players in order to win and that is why it grew so fast.” But the trios don’t just compete to see who wins on the field. They also compete for who has the most eye-catching presentation. For now, perhaps the big winner in this category has been the players of the Roldán Jeep team, that made
their entrance in a car from the automaker that sponsored them to a red carpet where journalists and special guests were waiting for them. Simple and dynamic. Attractive and fun. At night, on sand and in the middle of the polo capital of the world. An expanding model that began as a meeting of good friends, dinner and horses and today it is already an interesting international event. •
Games can be viewed live through the PoloHUB+ platform.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 45
POLO REPORT DISPATCHES FROM THE WORLD OF POLO FLORIDA
THE VILLAGES INSURANCE WINS WOMEN’S SPRING TOURNAMENT
The Villages Insurance’s Hope Arellano prevents Galaxy Home Solution’s Dawn Jones from advancing the ball in the Women’s Spring Tournament at The Villages Polo Club.
T
HE VILLAGES INSURANCE won The Villages Polo club’s (The Villages, Florida) 16-goal Women’s Spring Tournament on March 26. Three teams competed in a round robin over two days with scores carrying over from the first day. The winning team was led by 7goal Hope Arellano, ably assisted by sisters Reagan and Robyn Leitner and Sophie Grant. They took on Fross & Fross (Ava Hinkson, Liv Berube, Courtney Asdourian, Paige Boone)
46 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
and Galaxy Home Solutions (Danielle Lussi, Dawn Jones, Olivia Merlos, Alyson Poor). In the first round, after receiving a half-goal handicap, The Villages Insurance downed Galaxy Home Solutions (Danielle Lussi, Dawn Jones, Olivia Merlos, Alyson Poor), 5½-4. Fross & Fross, after receiving a half-goal handicap, defeated Galaxy Home Solutions, 6½-5. That left the final round as a virtual final between The Villages Insurance and
Fross & Fross. The Villages was up 2-1 to start the match after carrying over its first day’s score. Arellano struck first just two minutes into the match. She found the mark early in the second before Boone put Fross & Fross on the board with a penalty conversion to end the half with The Villages ahead, 2-1. Arellano doubled up The Villages’ score with a pair of penalty conversions in the second half of the third period while the team kept
P O L O
The Villages’ Robyn Leitner, Reagan Leitner, Sophie Grant and Hope Arellano won The Villages’ Spring Tournament.
Fross & Fross off the board. Reagan Leitner ran to goal early in the fourth. Arellano struck again and Grant followed with another to stretch The Villages’ lead to six, 7-1. In the closing minutes, Boone was able to break through The Villages’ defense, scoring Fross & Fross’ only field goal but time ran out before the team could get any closer. The Villages prevailed, 7-2. “We just had so much fun playing and competing together and that’s what it’s all about,” said Arellano. “We came into it telling ourselves we just wanted to have fun and play as a team. I think we did that and we enjoyed every minute of it.” Sophie Grant was MVP and Hope Arellano’s Milkshake, a 10-year-old gray gelding, was Best Playing Pony. Six teams competed over Easter Weekend in the Properties of The Villages tournament. The final was a pitch battle between Galaxy (Holly Chamberlain, Wes Llosa, Charly Quincoces, Frankie Llosa) and United Healthcare (Cameron Smart, Winship Rees, Antonio Silvestre, Nick Johnson). United Healthcare began with a one-goal handicap but Galaxy negated it with a penalty conversion by Wes Llosa in the last minute of the first chukker. The teams matched each other in the second with Johnson
R E P O R T
Galaxy’s Frankie Llosa, Charlie Quincoces, Wes Llosa and Holly Chamberlain won the Properties of The Villages 8 Goal.
sinking a pair of penalty conversions for United Healthcare while Quincoces converted a penalty and Frankie Llosa tallied on a run to goal for Galaxy, ending the half with the teams knotted 3-3 at the half. Fouls continued to plague the teams, with each capitalizing on the opposition’s mistakes. Johnson hit the target with a Penalty 4 conversion but Quincoces followed with a pair of Penalty 2 conversions to give Galaxy the lead. Quincoces increased the lead early in the fourth but United Healthcare fought back. Smart found the mark and Johnson took the ball to goal straight out of the ensuing throw-in to knot the score, 6-6, with just over two minutes left. Frankie Llosa got the ball and sent it through the post to break the tie with just over a minute on the clock. It was do or die for United Healthcare but Frankie Llosa kept the ball from them and scored just seconds before the horn to insure the win, 8-6. Charly Quincoces was MVP and Francisco Llosa’s Mini, a 10-year-old chestnut mare, was Best Playing Pony. Earlier consolation matches saw Arden’s Fine Jewelers (Miguel LisPlanells, Lord Lyall, Chavelo Briones, Tony Vita) top Citizens First Bank (Dennis Fitzpatrick, Hilary MrozBlythe, Loryn Butterworth, John
Gobin), 8-6, and Fross & Fross (Thomas Fross, Liv Berube, Nick Berube, Eden Ormerod) tie The Villages Insurance (Kim Smith, Paul Wadsworth, Paige Boone, Francisco Bilbao), 3-3. Earlier in the season, The Villages Insurance overcame Galaxy Home Solutions and Arden’s Fine Jewelers in the club’s second 8 goal of the season, March 14. The tournament was played as a round robin over two days, with scores carrying over from one day to the next. The first round on the second day of play saw Arden’s (Ava Hinkson, Paige Boone, Nick Johnson, Frankie Bilbao) edge Galaxy (Lord Lyall, Nate Berube, Brad Limehouse, Tony Vita), 9-7. The Villages Insurance (Liv Berube, Mark Mulligan, Martin Ravina, Eden Ormerod) also slipped Galaxy, 9-8, setting up the last round as a winner-take-all match. The Villages Insurance carried forward a 5-2 lead over Ardens from the first day. It extended the advantage to 8-2 after the first two chukkers. Ormerod sliced a neckshot from a difficult angle through the pipes at the 4:40 mark in the first period. Teammate Ravina collected a loose ball and streaked ahead of the pack for a breakaway as Bilbao came off his pony. Ormerod cleaned up a third opportunity in the second after Mulli-
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 47
P O L O
R E P O R T
Liv Berube, Mark Mulligan, Martin Ravina and Eden Ormerod won an 8 goal for The Villages Insurance.
gan and Berube were hooked, banging home a rebound opportunity. Arden’s rallied in third and final chukker with four unanswered goals, including two from MVP Paige Boone, but it was all for naught. “We did a great job not being caught between two different players on the defensive end for most of the day,” Ormerod said. “We trusted one another to be in the right spots and play their own man, and we let the plays come our way.” Ormerod, who was celebrating his 33rd birthday, scored three goals to help lift Arden’s to the 8-6 victory. Liv Berube’s Luigi, who she played in the fifth chukker, was Best Playing Pony. The 5-year-old brown gelding was bred by Berube. The following week, The Villages Insurance team switched jerseys and team name to Fross & Fross, taking home another victory. “The more we’ve been able to play together, the more we’re learning how to play together,” said Ravina. “The four of us have had the chance to play together twice now, and we’re really starting to work well together.” The final saw United Healthcare (Ava Hinkson, Lord Lyall, Nick Johnson, Frankie Bilbao) shut out Fross & Fross until the last minute and a half of the third chukker. Bilbao began the scoring with a lone goal in the
48 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Fross & Fross’ Eden Ormerod, Martin Ravina, Mark Mulligan and Liv Berube won their second 8 goal in a row at The Villages.
first chukker. He followed with a Penalty 3 conversion then a field goal. Hinkson ended the chukker with a shot through the posts for a 40 lead. Early in the third, Bilboa scored his fourth goal for a 5-0 advantage. With 1:33 left in the third, Ravina sunk a penalty to put Fross & Fross on the board. Down 5-1, Fross & Fross made a handful of strategy changes, including moving Ravina to Back and varying give-and-go principles, to get back in the game in the second half. The results were immediate. Ravina scored another early in the fourth. Johnson responded but Ravina shot back with a field goal then a penalty conversion. The chukker ended with Mulligan splitting the uprights and bringing Fross & Fross within one, 6-5. Ormerod ran to goal in the fifth, tying the score. Mulligan sank a Penalty 2, giving Fross & Fross a first-time advantage. Bilbao scored a Penalty 3 leveling the score at 7-7, going into the last period. He scored another Penalty 3 to take the lead, but it lasted less than a minute before Mulligan leveled the score. Ravina gave Fross & Fross the lead with just under two minutes left, but Johnson tied the score with 46 seconds to go. The match ended tied, but Fross & Fross was awarded the title after securing a two-goal victory
two days earlier. “We had a game plan, but sometimes it doesn’t always go the way it’s supposed to,” Ravina said. “You’ve got to have a Plan B, Plan C and so on, and we did today. We moved our hitters around and changed our releases, and we were able to come out on top because of it.” Ravina, who scored five goals, was MVP, while Johnson’s Dinamita was Best playing Pony. Johnson played the 10-year-old bay mare in the fifth chukker.
ELLIPSE TRIUMPHS IN USPA AMATEUR CUP Ellipse topped a four-team lineup to take the title in the 2-goal USPA Amateur Cup at Sunset Polo Club in Loxahatchee, Florida, Feb. 10. The tournament began with Blandings (Katerina Teroerde, Mark Teroerde, Stewart Burkland, Nico Harriott) facing Escorihuela (Camille Ricaud, Javier Herrera, Julian Pettinato, Lucas Gonzalez). Blandings jumped out to an early lead, with goals by Harriott and Mark Teroerde, adding to a one and a half-goal handicap. Ricaud put Escorihuela on the board, but Burkland quickly responded. Blandings kept up the pressure in the second, with Harriott tallying two goals and Mark Teroerde adding one. The half
P O L O
Ellipse’s Santiago Gonzalez, Laura Willson, Carlos Gonzalez and Louis Devaleix won the USPA Amateur Cup at Sunset Polo Club.
ended with Blandings ahead, 7½-1. Pettinato traded goals with Harriott early in the third. Herrera split the uprights and Pettinato added his second goal to cut the difference to four-and-ahalf goals. With two minutes left in the chukker Katerina Teroerde was hit with the ball. The team played with three players for the remainder of the chukker to give her time to catch her breath. Ricaud scored her second goal in the fourth but Burkland had the answer. Gonzalez sunk a Penalty 3 to bring Escorihuela within three-and-a-half goals but ran out of time and Blandings had the 9½-6 win, advancing to the final. Game 2 pitted Ligonier (Ramon Caro, Alex Burkland, Cayden Borda, Elizabeth Brassart, Juan Villamil) against Ellipse (Santiago Gonzalez, Laura Willson, Carlos Gonzalez, Louis Devaleix). Ligonier began with a half-goal handicap. The first scored goal was a penalty conversion by Santiago Gonzalez. Villamil responded for Ligonier. Burkland fell early in the game and hurt his shoulder. He was replaced by Borda to give him time to recover. Ellipse stole the show in the second, with Carlos Gonzalez hammering three goals, Devaleix splitting the uprights and Santiago Gonzalez adding another penalty conversion. The surge caught Ligonier off guard and it was unable to reach the goal throughout the chukker, ending the half, 6-1½.
R E P O R T
Lauren Bilsky, Malicia Von Falkenhausen, Alyson Poor and Trevor Reeves won the Loxahatchee Groves Cup.
Villamil ended the drought in the opening minutes of the third, but Santiago Gonzalez converted another penalty and Carlos Gonzalez shot through three more to take a wide lead, 10-2½. Bad luck continued for Burkland, who, back in the saddle after the fall, was hit in the face by his horse and had to sit out the remainder of the game. With a hefty lead, Ellipse was silenced in the final chukker. Caro came alive, notching four tallies, including a pair of penalties, but it wasn’t enough and Ellipse had the win, 10-6½, to advance. Ligonier and Escorihuela faced each other in a consolation match. Borda filled in for Burkland and Daniel Bain filled in for Lucas Gonzalez. Ligonier began with a one-and-a-half-goal handicap. The teams matched goals in each of the first three chukkers. Ligonier scored the only goal of the fourth, and that, added to the handicap goal, was enough to put it on top, 6½-4. Caro led Ligonier with three goals, matched by Pettinato for Escorihuela. The final was played a day later when Blandings met Ellipse. Blandings began with a half-goal handicap, but a goal by Carlos Gonzalez in the first negated it and then some. Santiago Gonzalez shot in back-to-back goals in the second and Devaleix added another. Harriott scored for Blandings but Ellipse was leading 41½ at the half. Santiago Gonzalez and Mark Teroe-
dre traded goals in the third to maintain the difference. Ellipse turned up the pressure in the third with Santiago Gonzalez splitting the uprights. Carlos Gonzalez converted a Penalty 3 then scored from the field to increase the lead. Blandings was unable to reach the goal and Ellipse took the 8-2½ win. Laura Willson was MVP and Mark Teroedre’s Crimson was Best Playing Pony. March action saw Stage Hill (Lauren Bilsky, Malicia Von Falkenhausen, Alyson Poor, Trevor Reeves) upstage five other teams to win the Loxahatchee Groves Cup. In the final, Stage Hill got the best of Ligonier (Alex Burkland, Stewart Burkland, Mark Teroerde, Juan Villamil). Bilsky put Stage Hill on the board to start the final. Ligonier came out like a lion, responding with Villamil scoring three in a row added to a half-goal handicap. Undeterred, Reeves shot back with a pair of goals wrapped around one from Villamil to end the half in favor of Ligonier, 4½-3. The second half belonged to Stage Hill. Reeves scored the only goal of the third to get within a half goal. He followed with two in a row in the final period to take the lead. Poor added on to that, putting Stage Hill up 7-4½. Ligonier could not break through the Stage Hill defense in the second half, giving Stage Hill the win.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 49
R E P O R T CURT LEIMBACH
JULIO AGUILAR
P O L O
Whiskey Pond’s Toto Collardin, Guille Aguero, Brent Hamill and Ramon Collardin won three 8 goals at Sarasota Polo Club.
In preliminary matches, Sunset Polo (Sharon Bobowski, Santi Gonzalez, Lucas Gonzalez, Carlos Gonzalez) fell to Stage Hill, 8-4; Ligonier crushed Court Lin Ray (Cayden Borda, Robert Boyd, Kerstie Allen, Eugenio Ferrari), 8½-3; Court Lin Ray edged Sparkly Wieners, 54; Sunset tapped Resolute (Elizabeth Brassart, Lauren Proctor-Brown, David Eldredge, Laura Willson), 7½-6; Stage Hill beat Resolute, 9-4½; and Ligonier got the best of Sparkly Wieners, 8½-4.
WHISKEY POND ACES TRIO OF 8 GOAL EVENTS Whiskey Pond dominated the 8-goal action at Sarasota Polo Club in Sarasota, Florida, this winter as the club celebrated its 30th season. The team, made up of Ramon Collardin, Brent Hamill, Guille Aguero and Toto Collardin, started out in January with the Wayne Brown Memorial Tournament. It came into the final, Jan. 17, as the only team to go undefeated and was determined not to blemish its record. It faced Hillcroft (Jaymie Klauber, Herndon Radcliff, Mason Wroe, James Miller), that was looking to avenge an earlier loss at the hands of Whiskey Pond. Whiskey Pond jumped out to an early lead off the strength of Aguero and
50 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Investus/North South Wealth Management’s Camille Ricaud, Kerstie Allen, Hanna Hornung and Kaitlyn Hornung won Flight C.
Toto Collardin. The team was ahead, 31, by the end of the first chukker and extended it to 4-1 by the end of the second. Hillcroft rallied in the next two chukkers, not only digging out of the hole it was in but taking the lead, 6-5. But Aguero and Toto Collardin took it up another notch, storming back with four unanswered goals to celebrate the victory, 9-6. Toto Collardin was MVP and his son Ramon Collardin’s Regia was Best Playing Pony. The teams met again in the final of the USPA Gerry Aschinger Memorial two weeks later. Wroe put Hillcroft on the board with a penalty conversion, but Whiskey Pond responded with the next four goals. Hillcroft steadied itself, chipping away at the deficit to get back in the game. Spectators were treated to flashes of brilliance from Toto Collardin and Radcliff while Aguero made full-speed runs up and down the field. The fourth chukker came to a sudden halt when Hamill took an unfortunate tumble from his horse. Out of an abundance of caution, Slade Sharpsteen took his place. Whiskey Pond didn’t skip a beat, taking a two-goal lead at the end of the chukker. Hillcroft scored in the fifth, but it was matched by Collardin to maintain the difference. Hillcroft dug deep but Whiskey Pond held steady, holding on to the two-goal
advantage, 10-8, to the final bell. Toto Collardin was again named MVP and his mare Curandera was Best Playing Pony pro. His son Ramon’s mare Regia was Best Playing Pony amateur for the second time this season. Whiskey Pond continued its dominance in the USPA Officer’s Cup, making it into the final, this time against Out East (Leon Schwencke, John Humphreys, Lucas Arellano, Tommy Biddle). The well-balanced and determined Out East team was ready to lay it all on the line. Whiskey Pond jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first two minutes but Out East quickly countered with goals of its own. The first half was riddled with fouls as the teams tried hard to take control, ending tied 5-5. All but two goals were scored from the penalty line. Biddle gave Out East an edge early in the fourth with a field goal then a penalty conversion. It was the largest deficit Whiskey Pond had seen all season. Aguero scored but Arellano countered with a goal to close the chukker, 86. Collardin came out on a beautiful chestnut mare in the fifth and quickly took control. He scored four unanswered goals to shift the momentum in Whiskey Pond’s favor. The sixth chukker was a battle with neither team able to reach the goal until Biddle converted a Penalty 3 after
R E P O R T
CURT LEIMBACH
CURT LEIMBACH
P O L O
Investus’ Camille Ricaud, Kerstie Allen, Belinda Brody and Malicia Von Falkenhausen won Sarasota Women’s Tournament Flight B.
more than three minutes. Biddle struck again with less than a minute left to tie the score, 10-10, and force overtime. Sudden death started with a throwin 80-yards from the Whiskey Pond goal. Schwencke initially grab the ball but lost it. Aguero seized the opportunity, rocketing off to goal and giving his team the victory. Aguero was MVP while Toto Collardin’s Sole was Best Playing Pony. The winning team took home a $15,000 prize, while runner-up went home with $7,500. In other action, a women’s tournament attracted players from across Florida and the country as well as internationally. The event was played in three flights. In the C Flight, played at the 0- to 4goal level, Investus/North South Wealth Management (Kerstie Allen, Hanna Hornung, Camille Ricaud, Kaitlyn Hornung) took the title. The dynamic duo of Kerstie Allen and Camille Ricaud were too much for the other teams to handle. Ricaud made run after run and when the opposing defense slowed her down, the Hornung sisters picked up the slack. Texas Precious Metals (Samantha Leach, Claire Dornak, Tory Sieglaff, Sarah Morelli) and Sparkly Wieners (Lauren Willson, Elizabeth Brassart, Lauren ProctorBrown, Catchee Teroerde) were unable
Avalon Farms’ Catherine Brentzel, Sophie Grant, Hope Arellano and Alyson Poor won Flight A of Sarasota’s Women’s Tournament.
to stop them. Ricaud scored five goals and was named MVP, while Hanna Hornung’s Gotta was Best Playing Pony. In the 8- to 10goal B Flight, Investus (Kerstie Allen, Camille Ricaud, Belinda Brody, Malicia Von Falken- SD Farms’ Tommy Collingwood, Peco Polledo, Santi Torres and Sayyu Dantata won the 18-goal Mahogany Cup at Port Mayaca Polo Club. hausen) battled Resolute (Lauren Bilsky, Alyson Poor, Lauren ProctorBrown, Katie Mitcham). After the Round 1 game, the teams were knotted, 5-5. They were still level, 10-10, after SD Farms defeated Postage Stamp Round 2. Overtime saw Von FalkenFarm to win the 18-goal Mahogany hausen spin on a back shot from Brody Cup at Port Mayaca Polo Club in and run it through the posts for the Okeechobee, Florida, April 1. Six win. Von Falkenhausen’s Twist Top was teams divided into two brackets comBest Playing Pony, while Resolute’s Laupeted in the event. ren Bilsky was MVP. A low-scoring first half saw Postage The 14- to 16-goal A Flight saw AvalStamp (Annabelle Gundlach, Facundo on (Hope Arellano, Margaux Obregon, Santino Magrini, Mariano Buchanan/Catherine Brentzel, Alyson Aguerre) narrowly ahead, 4-3. SD Farm Poor, Sophie Grant) overwhelm both (Sayyu Dantata, Peco Polledo, Tommy PDM (Holly Chamberlain, Olivia Collingwood, Santi Torres) regrouped at Uechtritz, Megan Shader, Maddie halftime, staying even with Postage Grant) and Polo Gear Coffee Company Stamp in the fourth. It inched ahead in (Ashlie Osburg, Zoe Cookson, Dawn the fifth with a pair of unanswered Jones, Izzy Parson). Arellano was MVP goals. It added another goal early in the and Grant’s Lady was Best Playing Pony. sixth but Facundo Obregon answered
SD PREVAILS IN MAHOGANY CUP
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 51
P O L O
R E P O R T
Blandings’ Tommy Collingwood, Costi Caset, Carlitos Gracida and Stewart Burkland won the 14-goal Live Oak Challenge.
with a pair of penalty conversions to tie the score at 8-all. SD worked even harder, with Polledo and Collingwood finding the target to win the match, 10-8. Santi Torres was MVP and Peco Polledo’s Brasita was Best Playing Pony. In the 14-goal Live Oak Challenge, Blandings (Stewart Burkland, Tommy Collingwood, Carlitos Gracida, Costi Caset) topped a 10-team lineup for the title. After close semifinals, Blandings met Eureka (Rene Campos, Colo Gonzalez, Santiago Cernadas, Jorge Cernadas) in the final. Eureka quickly jumped out to a three-goal advantage in the first. Blandings fought back, leveling the score at 55 at the half. The teams stayed even at the end of the fourth before Eureka powered ahead with three unanswered goals to enter the sixth with a three-goal advantage, 10-7. But Blandings wasn’t about to give up. Carlitos Gracida converted two penalty shots, and a field goal from Costi Caset tied the score. With 90 seconds left in the match, Tommy Collingwood broke free to give Blandings the lead. Eureka tried to score but wasn’t able to get past the Blandings’ defense. With seconds on the clock, Stewart Burkland scored to seal the win, 12-10. Carlitos Gracida was MVP and Santiago Cernadas’ Londres was Best Playing Pony.
52 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Gardenvale/Horseware’s Juanse Olivera, Shane Finemore, Nachi Viana and Bauti Crotto won the 8-goal USPA President’s Cup.
In 8-goal action, Gardenvale/Horseware (Shane Finemore, Bauti Crotto, Nachi Viana, Juanse Olivera) defeated Skaneateles (Marty Cregg, Joao Aranha, Costi Caset, Valentino Echezarreta) for the USPA President’s Cup title. The two balanced teams were tied 2-2 after the first 14 minutes. Gardenvale powered ahead in the third to double up Skaneateles, 6-3, at the half. Skaneateles rallied in the second half, tying the game, 6-6, at the end of the fourth and, 7-7, to end the fifth. It continued to keep pace with Gardenvale with the teams locked, 9-9, with 30 seconds on the clock. It looked like overtime was evident but the umpires’ whistles stopped the play and Gardenvale was awarded a Penalty 2. Viana had no trouble converting the penalty to give Gardenvale/Horseware the win. Nachi Viana was named MVP and Juanse Olivera’s 27 was Best Playing Pony.
DUNDAS CAPTURES SIEBER MEMORIAL Dundas held off a late rally from Newport to win, 12-10, taking the title in the 12-goal Sieber Memorial at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida, March 20. The final was a rematch of an early game between the teams that Newport
(Gene Goldstein, Milo Dorignac, Michel Dorignac, Nick Manifold) won, 15-11. Determined not to let history repeat itself, Dundas (Cable Magness, Juan Cruz Marcos, Hugo Taylor, Tatu Gomez Romero) quickly answered a Penalty 2 conversion from Michel Dorignac with a field goal added to a handicap goal for a quick 2-1 lead. Dorignac kept up the pressure, picking Gomez Romero’s pocket and tying the score at 2-all. Taylor ended the chukker with a tally to give Dundas back the narrow lead, 3-2. Dundas controlled the second with Taylor and Gomez Romero combining for three goals that went unanswered, giving the team a 6-2 advantage. Dundas kept pushing, scoring three more in the third, while holding Newport to a Penalty 4 from Michel Dorignac for a 93 lead at the half. Newport benefited from the halftime break, regrouped and outscored Dundas in the next two periods. Goldstein, Michel Dorignac and Manifold found the goal in the fourth while holding Dundas to a goal from Cruz Marcos to cut the deficit to four, 10-6. Manifold and Milo Dorignac split the uprights in the fifth and Michel Dorignac converted a penalty while silencing Dundas, making the difference just one, 10-9, with one chukker to go. Gomez Romero increased the difference to two early in the sixth, but a Penalty 2 by Michel Dorignac cut it
R E P O R T
Dundas’ Cable Magness, Juan Cruz Marcos, Hugo Taylor and Tatu Gomez Romero won the 12-goal Sieber Memorial
back to just one. Gomez Romero tallied once more while the Dundas defense held steady, taking the match 12-10. Tatu Gomez Romero was MVP and Cable Magness’ Leona was Best Playing Pony. While Newport came up short in the Sieber Memorial, it had what it took to win the Top Pony 12-goal on April 6. Newport faced Ellipse (Jack Whitman, Toly Ulloa, Robi Bilbao, Louis Devaleix). Ellipse began with a handicap goal, but a foul just 20 seconds into the match leveled the score. A pair of penalty conversions from Bilbao put Ellipse ahead, 3-1. Michel Dorignac converted a Penalty 2 early in the second but goals by Whitman and Ulloa kept Ellipse ahead. Manifold ended the chukker with a tally, bringing Newport within one, 5-4. Bilboa traded goals with Manifold early in the third before Ulloa converted a Penalty 2. Later, Milo Dorignac swapped goals with Bilbao, ending the half with Ellipse ahead 8-6. The match continued to be riddled with fouls in the second half. Michel Dorignac scored one from the field to open the fourth before the teams alternated penalty conversions to knot the score at 10-all. Ellipse took back the lead early in the fifth with yet another penalty conversion but Michel Dorignac bounced back with a field goal and a pair of penalty conversions to give New-
Parrotheads’ Roni Duke, Nachi Viana, Jason Wates and Felipe Viana won the $50,000 National 12-goal.
port a first-time lead, 13-11. Ulloa and Bilbao found the mark in the last chukker, however Michel Dorignac converted four penalties to give Newport the win, 17-13. Michel Dorignac, who scored 13 goals, was MVP and Purdon Guri Canina, played by Michel Dorignac and owned by Sebi Merlos, was Best Playing Pony. In other action, Parrotheads won the cash in the $50,000 National 12-goal. Parrotheads (Nachi Viana, Roni Duke, Jason Wates, Felipe Viana) faced Beverly Equestrian (Bill Ballhaus, Keko MagriMVP Michel Dorignac, far left, scored 13 goals for Newport in the Top Pony 12-goal.
ni, Tolito Ocampo, Hilario Figueras) on March 30. While Figueras got the scoring started, mistakes by Beverly Equestrian gave Parrotheads two opportunities with open-goal penalties, which Nachi Viana took full advantage of. Nachi added back-to-back goals in the second, and brother Felipe Viana converted a Penalty 3 to take a 5-1 lead into the third. The Viana brothers kept up the pressure, increasing the difference to six, 7-1. A pair of Penalty 2 conversions kept Beverly in the game, ending the score, 7-3, at the half. CANDACE FERREIRA / GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO
CANDACE FERREIRA / GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO
CANDACE FERREIRA / GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO
P O L O
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 53
R E P O R T CANDACE FERREIRA / GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO
CANDACE FERREIRA / GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO
P O L O
Casablanca’s Juan Martin Nero, Barto Castagnola, Juancito Bollini and Grant Ganzi won the WPL Palm Beach Open.
Wates split the uprights early in the fourth and Nachi Viana converted a Penalty 2 to put the lead back to six. Nachi Viana sandwiched Penalty 2s around a goal from Ocampo to end the chukker with Parrotheads comfortably ahead, 10-4. Nachi Viana and Ocampo traded goals early in the sixth. Beverly benefited from a Penalty 1 added to Penalty 2 and 3 conversions from Figueras, bringing the team within three, 11-8. Wates slipped in a final goal at the 30 second mark, ending the match with Parrotheads on top, 12-8. Nachi Viana was MVP and Roni Duke’s Tap Dancer was Best Playing Pony.
CASABLANCA TOPS PALM BEACH OPEN Casablanca defeated Richard Mille, 12-9, to capture the World Polo League’s Palm Beach Open. The event was played at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida, from March 15-28. Eight teams competed in the event. After playoff games, lasting 10 days, Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Barto Castagnola, Juan Martin Nero) and Richard Mille (Marc Ganzi, Jeta Castagnola, Pablo Mac Donough, Paco de Narvaez), both 26-goal teams, settled at the top.
54 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Richard Mille’s Marc Ganzi, Jeta Castagnola, Pablo Mac Donough and Paco de Narvaez won the 26-goal WPL Founder’s Cup title.
The final saw de Narvaez strike first but a Penalty 2 by Barto Castagnola leveled the playing field. Mac Donough and Jeta Castagnola added goals to put Richard Mille ahead, 3-1. Casablanca turned the tables in the second with Nero striking early and Barto Castagnola following up with back-to-back goals, then a Penalty 4 conversion while Richard Mille was silenced. Nero added another goal but Jeta Castagnola responded with a penalty conversion. Bollini converted a Penalty 2 only to be answered by Mac Donough with a field goal, keeping the difference two, 7-5, at the half. Barto Castagnola added a pair of goals, including a Penalty 5 conversion, to increase the difference to four, 9-5. Marc Ganzi helped start an effort to whittle down the deficit. Jeta Castagnola scored early in the fifth and Mac Donough followed with a Penalty 4 conversion to bring the team within one, 98, but with just 30 seconds left in the chukker, Nero put the difference back to two, 10-8. Richard Mille fought back in the sixth. De Narvaez passed to Jeta Castagnola, who put the ball between the posts, bringing the team within one once again. But with Richard Mille nipping at its heels, Barto Castagnola passed to Grant Ganzi to finish, then scored a goal of his own to put the game out of reach, 12-9. “The final was tough, and Richard
Mille is a good team. We got lucky that they missed a couple of goals, and we played a bit better in the end,” said Nero. “We’re so happy to win. We worked really hard for this.” Barto Castagnola was MVP and Jeta Castagnola won Play of the Day. For the four-legged athletes, Barto Castagnola’s Rhodesia was WPL Best Playing Pony of the final; Juan Martin Nero’s Matsu was APHA Best Playing Pony; Pablo Mac Donough’s Irenita Suspicasia was AAP Best Playing Pony; and Grant Ganzi’s Girl Power was tournament Best Playing Pony. Richard Mille was fresh off its win in the league’s Founder’s Cup, played from Feb. 19-March 3. Eight teams filled the roster in this event as well. In the final, Richard Mille (Marc Ganzi, Jeta Castagnola, Pablo Mac Donough, Paco de Narvaez) faced Hawaii Polo Life (Santi Torres, Gringo Colombres, Jejo Taranco, Chris Dawson), just as it had in the final of the All-Star Challenge, and the results were the same. Hawaii Polo Life began with a handicap goal, which Castagnola quickly negated, but Taranco put Hawaii Polo Life back in the lead. Ganzi and Mac Donough scored in the second half of the chukker, putting Richard Mille ahead, 3-2. Richard Mille shifted to defense in the second chukker, keeping Hawaii off the board while Ganzi found the mark. Colombres converted a Penal-
R E P O R T
REBECCA FOLTZ
JIM BREMNER
P O L O
Hanalei Bay’s Krista Bonaguidi, Joe Coors, Rob Payne III and Cacho Galindo won the 4-goal Congressional Cup at Empire.
PAC I F I C C OA S T
HANALEI BAY SECURES CONGRESSIONAL CUP A tough Hanalei Bay powered past La Fortuna/Blazers in the final of the 4goal USPA Congressional Cup, March 14, at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. It was the third final between the
and Galindo found the mark, giving Hanalei Bay at 5-2 lead. Payne ran to goal early in the fourth and then converted a Penalty 3 to increase the lead. Coors added another goal, putting the game out of reach, 8-2. Saracco scored in the waning minutes but it was not enough and Hanalei Bay had the 8-3 win. Joe Coors was named MVP.
JIM BREMNER
ty 4 in the third and Taranco ran to goal to briefly knot the score before Ganzi converted a Penalty 3 to put Richard Mille ahead, 5-4, at the half. Richard Mille dominated the second half, keeping Hawaii away from the goal in the fourth and fifth while Castagnola converted a Penalty 4 and Mac Donough scored two in a row, doubling up Hawaii Polo Life, 8-4. The final seven minutes saw Richard Mille run away with the game, tripling up Hawaii, 12-4, thanks to goals by Mac Donough and Castagnola. Torres managed a pair of goals in the final minutes to close the match, 12-6. Mac Donough was named MVP and his Irenita Rastrogera was Associación Argentina de Criadores de Caballos de Polo’s Best Playing Pony. Jeta Castagnola’s Chalo Kayla was WPL Best Playing Pony and APHA Best Playing Pony was Paco de Narvaez’s Galleta Grande.
La Karina’s Jorge Briones, Patrick Boyd, Brian Boyd and Benito Hernandez won Flight II for the Constitution Cup title.
INTERNATIONAL Congressional Cup MVP Joe Coors
teams after meeting in the Amateur and Patton Cups. La Fortuna/Blazers (Elise Bigelow, Pat Powell, Kyle Fargey, Luis Saracco) won the Amateur Cup, while Hanalei Bay (Krista Bonaquidi, Ryan Kerley, Rob Payne III, Cacho Galindo) prevailed in the Patton Cup. In the Congressional Cup, Mica Saracco replaced Pat Powell, while Joe Coors took over for Ryan Kerley. Rob Payne got the scoring started in the first chukker. La Fortuna/Blazers started strong with Saracco and Fargey finding the goal to take a 2-1 lead after the first seven minutes. But things changed from there. Coors and Payne scored goals in the second, while La Fortuna/Blazers struggled to break through the Hanalei defense. Their struggles continued into the third, while Payne capitalized on a Penalty 2
LA KARINA VICTORIOUS IN CONSTITUTION CUP Costa Careyes Polo Club in Mexico hosted its Chinese New Year event, celebrating the Year of the Ox. Seven teams, made up of players from England, Argentina, Colorado, California and Mexico, divided into two flights, competed in the event. Flight I had two teams in it. Webourne Wines (Nick Clarke, Max Fernandez, Vale Aguilar, Adrian Cuevas) edged Dundas (Gary Magness, Nico Milan, Carlitos Hernandez, Milo Ardissone), 6-5, in a close match. Katie Falk replaced Magness who tore a ligament in his arm. In Flight II, both traditional games and round robins were played to determine the finalists. Winners received three points for a win and one point for a draw.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 55
R E P O R T DAVID MURRELL
DAVID MURRELL
P O L O
Horsegate’s Ariel Mancebo, Anson Moore and Lance Stefanakis won the Gen. Patton Cup during the Texas Arena League.
Quinto Sol (Manuel Matos, Memo Jimenez, Joel Acosta, Conrad Kissling) and La Karina (Brian Boyd, Patrick Boyd, Benito Hernandez, Jorge Briones) ended with nine points each. Victory Polo (Kevin Schmeits, Emiliano Ayala, Concho Ayala, Lorenzo Creixell), Cabinet Connection (Chris Falk, Will Falk, Josh Falk, Raul Ramirez) and Agua Alta (Milo Ardissone, Carlitos Hernandez, Bautista Elliot, Sydney Falk) each ended with a win in round robin play. The Flight II final saw La Karina and Quinto Sol battle it out. Hernandez put La Karina on top early in the game with two quick goals. Quinto Sol answered back with two goals in the second. The lead changed several times, making for an exciting match. La Karina got the 6-5 edge, thanks to five goals from Hernandez. Host Giorgio Brignone presented the trophies to all the teams. SOUTHWEST
TEXAS ARENA LEAGUE KICKS OFF 4TH YEAR The Texas Arena League got started at Legends Polo Club in Kaufman, Texas, with matches Jan. 29-31. USPA military tournaments have taken the spotlight at Texas Arena
56 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Dallas Polo Club’s Will Walton, Whitney Walker and Don English won the Gen. Puller.
League with a strong presence of active and former military members and military family members. Teams and players not only compete in USPA tournaments, they are playing for TAL points and end-ofleague awards. Players and teams receive points for win/loss/tie and individual awards such as MVP, Best Playing Pony and Sportsmanship. This year, a 6- to 9-goal flight was added, drawing five teams: Prestonwood Green (Vaughn Miller, Vance Miller, John Dencker, Umair Kaimkhani) defeated Dallas Polo Club (Michael Farrah, Dan Faherty, Will Walton); Villa Ecleto (Morgan Tennant, Lalo Ramirez, Carlos Ramirez) defeated Bar-Spur (Wyatt Myr, Javier Insua, Mark Osburn); and Legends Polo Club (Megan Rahfls, Nacho Estrada, August Scherer) defeated Villa Ecleto and BarSpur. Nimitz and Patton tournaments are played in a single elimination format with winning teams advancing to the next Texas Arena League event. Teams that were knocked out, along with a new team, Riverbend, played in single elimination tournaments—USPA Arena Amateur Cup and USPA Gen. Puller. In the 3- to 6-goal, Horsegate (Lance Stefanakis, Ariel Mancebo, Anson Moore, Tess Sabatini) defeated Polo InterActive (Jose Velez, Javier Insua, Ariel Rodriguez); Bar-Spur
(Mark Osburn, Brady Williams, Ashley Owens) defeated 101 Polo Club (Dan Faherty, David Wertz, Laura Straussfeld); Prestonwood Green (Vaughn Miller Jr., Vance Miller III, Cale Curtin) defeated Elite Motion & Performance Pixies (Amanda Massey, Stephanie Colburn, Jack Crea); Texas Military (Karl Hilberg, Gal Schweiki, Wyatt Myr) defeated Elite Motion & Performance Pixies; Prestonwood Green defeated Texas Military; Oklahoma (Keith Monroe, Vaughn Miller Sr., Sidro Olivas) defeated Legends Polo Club (Kim Buttram, Nacho Estrada, August Scherer); and Villa Ecleto (Morgan Tennant, Lalo Ramirez, Carlos Ramirez) defeated Dallas Polo Club (Will Walton, Don English, Calyste Hanks). Oklahoma, Prestonwood and Horsegate moved on in the USPA George Patton competition. In the USPA Gen. Puller, Dallas Polo Club and 101 Polo Club advanced to the final at the next event. Action continued in the 0- to 3-goal. JD Polo (Ekaterina Kotova, Marlon Pimento, Javier Insua) defeated Crosshair Ranch (Alex Bryant, Ashley Owen, Cody Goetz); Prestonwood Red (James JB Long, Trenton Wertz, Robby Mooney, Vance Miller) defeated LeasePlan (Lisa Yanskey, Mark Osburn, Brady Williams); Horsegate (Lance Stefanakis, Ariel Mancebo, Regina Sabati-
R E P O R T
DAVID MURRELL
DAVID MURRELL
P O L O
ni) defeated Two Wishes (Ariel Rodriguez, Jose Velez, Andrew Richardson); Elite Motion & Performance Pixies (Dani Gibson, Stephanie Colburn, Lara Straussfeld, Amanda Massey) defeated Shweiki Media (Gal Shweiki, Karl Hilberg, Rob Phipps); Legends Polo Club (Verity Cameron, Nacho Estrada, James Glew) defeated Los Gauchos (Manuel Carrasco, Lalo Ramirez, Whitney Walker); and Visage.jobs (Nadir Khan, Joss Leufrancois, Jan Pieter Zweegers) defeated Tequila Sheilas (Abi Abel, Kate Howe, Megan Rahfls). Visage.jobs, Legends and Horsegate advanced in the USPA Admiral Nimitz, while Tequila Sheilas and Los Gauchos moved forward in the USPA Amateur Cup. In the C Flight, Legends Polo School (Taylor Hooten, Marcus River Murphy, Grant Norwood) defeated Crosshair Ranch (Alex Bryant, Jack Bryant, Emery Owen), while Legends 2 (Haley Winson, John Winson, Servando McHazlett) defeated Bar Spur/Tesla (Amanda Osburn, Peter Martin, Regina Sabatini). Catena Sportsmanship Award winners for the weekend included Michael Farah, Verity Cameron, Javier Insua, Ashley Owen, Karl Hilberg, Ariel Rodriguez, Robbie Mooney, Megan Rahlfs, Ariel Mancebo, lWyatt ce ed Myr, Can August Scherer, Don English and Mark
Horsegate’s Lance Stefanakis, Anson Moore and Nick Stefanakis won the Admiral Nimitz Cup at Texas Arena League.
Osburn. Galvin Agency MVP winners were Will Walton, Vance Miller, Ashley Owen, Joss Leufrancois, Sidro Olivas, Lance Stefanakis, Lalo Ramirez, Stephanie Colburn, William Faherty, Javier Insua, Robbie Mooney and August Scherer. The weekend saw Oklahoma (Chris Jones, Keith Monroe, Vaughn Miller Sr.), Prestonwood (Cale Curtain, John Dencker, Vance Miller III) and
Horsegate (Anson Moore, Lance Stefanakis, Ariel Mancebo) moving on in the 3- to 6-goal USPA George Patton tournament. In the 3- to 6-goal, the USPA General Puller tournament started with Dallas Polo Club (Will Walton, Don English, Calyste Hanks) and 101 Polo Club (Lara Straussfeld, David Werntz, Dan Faherty) moving on to the final at the next TAL event. In the 0- to 3-goal, play continued in the USPA Admiral Nimitz military
Joe Bob Lequerica tries to stop Brady Williams. Ashley Owen and Will Mudra follow close behind.
DAVID MURRELL
LeasePlan’s Lisa Yanskey, Mark Osburn and Brady Williams won the Arena Amateur Cup during the Texas Arena League.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 57
R E P O R T DAVID MURRELL
DAVID MURRELL
P O L O
Crosshair Ranch’s Alex Bryant, Ashley Owen and Cody Goetz took the Arena Sportsmanship title.
tournament with Visage.jobs (Joss Leufrancois, Jan Pieter Zweegers, Nadir Khan), Legends (Verity Cameron, Nacho Estrada, James Glew) and Horsegate (Nick Stefanakis, Lance Stefanakis, Ariel Mancebo) moving forward to the final. The USPA Amateur Cup began competition at Legends with Tequila Sheilas (Kate Howe, Abi Able, James Glew/Megan Rahlfs), LeasePlan (Lisa Yanskey, Mark Osburn, Brady Williams) and Los Gauchos (Manuel Carasco, Whitney Walker, Lalo Ramirez) with the wins that moved them on in the tournament. Nutrena Best Playing Ponies for the weekend included Legends’ Gemma played by August Scherer; Stephanie Colburn’s Rocket; Lara Straussfeld’s Rosie; Brady Williams’ Sonita; Legends’ Chartreuse, played by Megan Rahlfs; Prestonwood’s Canada, played by Vance Miller; Javier Insua’s Paola; Ariel Rodriguez’s Mandarina; Horsegate’s Yamin, played by Lance Stefanakis; Wyatt Myr’s Winona; Legends’ Corazon, played by Nacho Estrada; and Carlos Ramirez’s Cara Blanca. Marcus Murphy was the Fan Favorite, with Jan Pieter Zweegers nipping at his heels. Inclement weather postponed the next event scheduled for Two Wishes ranch. Instead, it was again held at Legends Polo Club, Feb. 26-28. The
58 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
The Sherman Memorial title went to Legends Polo Club’s Nacho Estrada, Kim Buttram and August Scherer.
venue, with covered arena and horse prep areas, allowed for play despite lingering rain. In the 3-6 goal USPA George Patton tournament, Oklahoma (Sidro Olivas, Keith Monroe, Vaughn Miller Sr.) defeated Texas Military (Karl Hilberg, Gal Shweiki, Wyatt Myr); Prestonwood Green (Cale Curtain, Vaughn Miller Jr, Vance Miller III) defeated Bar Spur (Mark Osburn, Brady Williams, Ashley Owen); and Horsegate (Anson Moore, Lance Stefanakis, Ariel Mancebo) defeated Villa Ecleto (Morgan Tennant, Lalo Ramirez, Carlos Ramirez). The winners advanced in the competition. Additionally, in the 3- to 6-goal, the USPA General Puller tournament had Dallas Polo Club (Will Walton, Don English, Calyste Hanks) defeat Polo Interactive (Jose Velez, Javier Insua, Ariel Rodriguez) and Legends (Kim Buttram, Nacho Astrada, August Scherer). 101 Polo Club (Lara Straussfeld, David Werntz, Dan Faherty) defeated Elite Motion & Performance Pixies (Amanda Massey, Stephanie Colburn, Jack Crea). Dallas and 101 advanced to the final at the next event. In the 0- to 3-goal, play continued in the USPA Admiral Nimitz military tournament with Visage.jobs (Joss Leufrancois, Zoe Lehmer, Nadir Khan) defeating JD Polo (Ekaterina Kotova, Marlon Pimento, Javier Insua); Legends (Verity Cameron,
Nacho Estrada, James Glew) defeating Elite Motion & Performance Pixies (Dani Gibson, Stephanie Colburn, Jack Crea); and Horsegate (Nick Stefanakis, Lance Stefanakis, Ariel Mancebo) defeating Prestonwood Red (Trenton Werntz, Robby Mooney, Vaughn Miller Sr./Vance Miller III). The winners advanced to the final. The USPA Arena Amateur Cup saw Tequila Sheilas (Kate Howe, Abi Abel, Megan Rahlfs) defeat Crosshair Ranch (Alex Bryant, Ashley Owen, Cody Goetz); LeasePlan (Lisa Yanskey, Mark Osburn, Brady Williams) defeat Two Wishes (Ariel Rodriguez, Jose Velez, Servando James McHazlett); and Los Gauchos (Manuel Carasco, Whitney Walker, Lalo Ramirez) defeat Shweiki Media (Gal Shweiki, Karl Hilberg, Rob Phipps). The winners advanced in the tournament. Galvin Agency MVPs for the weekend included Whitney Walker, Stephanie Colburn, Will Walton, Lance Stefanakis, Nadir Khan, Hannah Reynolds, Alex Bryant, Lara Straussfeld, Brady Williams, Chris Jones and Mark Osburn. Catena USA Sportsmanship Awards went to Gal Schweiki, Regina Sabatini, John Dencker, Umair Kaimkhani, Marlon Pimento, Servando James McHazlett, Brady Williams, Jack Crea, Vance Miller III, David Werntz, Calyste Hanks and Wendy Stover.
DAVID MURRELL
P O L O Nutrena Best Playing Ponies included Villa Ecleto’s Sunflower and Chalo, both played by Lalo Ramirez; Prestonwood’s Pina and Canada, both played by Vance Miller III; Legends’ Panela, played by James Glew: Cody Goetz’s Mila; Nick Stefanakis’ Negrita; Lara Straussfeld’s Blitz; Javier Insua’s Paola; Carlos Ramirez’s Negro; Legends’ Zama, played by Wyatt Myr; JD Polo’s John Wayne, played by Dan Faherty; and Wyatt Myr’s Whiskey Doc. Fan Favorite went to Alex Bryant. The next event was played Mar. 1921 at Brookshire Polo Club in Brookshire, Texas. A record 40 teams competed over the weekend in four different levels of competition. The 0- to 3-goal Southwestern Circuit Admiral Chester W. Nimitz military tournament, which began with 12 teams at the first TAL event, boiled down to a round-robin final between Visage.jobs (Joss Leufrancois, Jan Pieter Zweegers, Nadir Khan), Horsegate (Nick Stefanakis, Lance Stefanakis, Anson Moore) and Legends Polo Club (Nacho Estrada, Verity Cameron, James Glew). With each team having a 1-1 record in the round robin the win went down to a net goals tie-breaker with Horsegate coming out on top. LeasePlan (Lisa Yanskey, Mark Osburn, Brady Williams topped Tequila Sheilas (Abi Abel, Megan Rahlfs, Kate Howe) to take the 0- to 3-goal Circuit Arena Amateur Cup. Play started in two more 0- to 3-goal USPA tournaments. In the Southwestern Circuit Arena Challenge Cup, Prestonwood (Vaughn Miller Sr., Cale Curtain, Audrey Montgomery) fell to JD Polo (Ekaterina Kotova, Javier Insua, Tanner Kneese). Two Wishes (Servando James McHazlett, Ariel Rodriguez, Lara Strauss-
JD Polo’s Tanner Kneese, Ekaterina Kotova and Javier Insua took the Arena Challenge.
feld) won a round robin in the same tournament against Tesla (Amanda Osburn, Brady Williams, Megan Flynn) and Houston Mix (Grace Mudra, Isabel Artzer, Ashvath Bhatia). In the Southwestern Circuit Arena Sportsmanship Cup, Four Horsemen (Stephanie Colburn, Ally Vaughn, Kitana St-Cyr) defeated Crosshair Ranch (Ashley Owen, Alex Bryant, Cody Goetz) while Houston Girls (Bridgette Price, Abi Benton, Lily Lequerica) got the win over Shweiki Media (Gal Shweiki, Rob Phipps, Karl Hilberg). Two military tournament finals were held at the 3- to 6-goal level, including the inaugural Southwestern Circuit George S. Patton, Jr. arena tournament with a round robin between Oklahoma (Vaughn Miller Sr., Chris Jones, Lisa Yanskey), Prestonwood (Vance Miller, John Dencker, Cale Curtain) and Horsegate (Lance Stefanakis, Ariel Mancebo, Anson Moore). Horsegate took the win and the honors in a tournament that began with 11 teams. In the Southwestern Circuit General Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, Dallas Polo Club (Will Walton, Don English, Whitney Walker) defeated Elite Motion & Performance (Amanda Massey, Stephanie Colburn, Lara Straussfeld) in what could have been an intercollegiate/interscholastic alumni tourna-
R E P O R T ment with Texas A&M, University of Texas and interscholastic teams represented. The Southwestern Circuit Sherman Memorial tournament began with Legends Polo Club (Kim Buttram, August Scherer, Nacho Estrada) coming out ahead over Texas Military Polo (Karl Hilberg, Gal Shweiki, Wyatt Myr). Houston Boys (Mark Prinsloo, Will Mudra, Joe Bob Lequerica) proved the small can also be mighty in a win over Bar-Spur (Mark Osburn, Ashley Owen, Brady Williams). Meanwhile, Riverbend (Hannah Reynolds, Cara Kennedy, Joanie Jackson) took the win over Polo InterActive (Jose Velez, Javier Insua, Ariel Rodriguez). Galvin Agency Most Valuable Players were Joanie Jackson (two divisions), John Dencker, Joaquin Arguello, August Scherer, Mark Osburn, Ekaterina Kotova, Lance Stefanakis, Cody Goetz, Lily Lequerica, Grace Mudra, Lara Straussfeld, Joe Bob Lequerica, Vance Miller and Gal Schweiki. Catena USA Sportsmanship award winners were Nick Cifuni, Umair Kaimkhani, Olivia Reynolds, Megan Flynn, Abi Abel, Javier Insua, Verity Cameron, Stephanie Colburn, Bridgette Price, Isabel Artzer, Will Walton, Ashley Owen, Vaughn Miller Sr., Taylor Hooten and Jose Velez. Nutrena Best Playing Ponies were Will Walton’s Katniss; Villa Ecleto’s Sunflower, played by Lalo Ramirez; Hannah Reynolds’ Outlaw; Hidden View Farms’ Whiteclaw, played by Shane Rice; Brady Williams’ Sonita; Cale Curtain’s Nola; Legends’ Panela, played by James Glew; Ashley Owens’ Money; Brady Williams’ Izzy; Joe Bob Lequerica’s #45; Lance Stefanakis’ Negrita; Brady Williams’ Izzy, played by Amanda Massey; Wyatt Myr’s Whiskey Doc; and Cara Kennedy’s Luna. •
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 59
CALENDAR
May A P R I L 13 - M AY 2 5 Jake Kneece Memorial (4) Aiken, Aiken, SC
M A Y 6 - 16 Governors Cup (6) Midland, Midland, TX
MAY 20-30 Congressional Cup (6) Wagener, Aiken, SC
APRIL 1 8 - M A Y 1 La Dalila Cup (6) Hobe Sound, Hobe Sound, FL
MAY 8 Frisco Life Cup (6) Prestonwood, Oak Point, TX
M A Y 21 - 2 4 Governors Cup (6) Point Clear, Silverhill, AL
APRIL 24-MAY 9 USPA Sportsmanship Cup (6) Aiken, Aiken, SC
MAY 8-9 Mothers Day Matches New Orleans, Folsom, LA
M A Y 21 - 3 0 Congressional Cup (10) Willow Bend, Little Elm, TX
APRIL 28-MAY 1 Arena Sportsmanship Cup (3) Triangle, Hurdle Mills, NC
MAY 8-JUNE 5 Saturday League (4) Willow Bend, Little Elm, TX
MAY 22 May Challenge Cup (6) Prestonwood, Oak Point, TX
A P R I L 2 8 - M A Y 16 Regional President’s Cup (8) Houston, Houston, TX
MAY 9 NYTS (4) Cerro Pampa, Petaluma, CA
MAY 22-23 Challenge Cup New Orleans, Folsom, LA
Regional President’s Cup (8) New Bridge, Aiken, SC APRIL 29-MAY 2 Spring Fling Midland, Midland, TX APRIL 29-JUNE 20 Spring Pro-Pool League Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA APRIL 30-MAY 9 Folded Hills Pope Challenge (12) Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA A P R I L 3 0 - M A Y 31 Amateur Cup (4) Two Wishes, Lockhart, TX MAY 1 Polo on the Lawn (6) Prestonwood, Oak Point, TX MAY 1-2 Retro Classic New Orleans, Folsom, LA Amateur Cup (2) Houston, Houston, TX M A Y 5 - 19 Heritage Cup (10) Willow Bend, Little Elm, TX MAY 6-9 Arena Constitution Cup (4) Stage Hill, Newbury, MA
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M A Y 9 - 16 Spring Women’s Challenge Cup (8, 12) Aiken, Aiken, SC M A Y 11 - 2 3 USPA Constitution Cup (6) Aiken, Aiken, SC MAY 12-23 Southwestern Regional Classic (14) Houston, Houston, TX M A Y 14 - 2 3 Lisle Nixon Memorial (12) Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA M AY 15 Dallas Polo Cup (4) Dallas, Red Oak, TX Preakness Stakes Cup (6) Prestonwood, Oak Point, TX M A Y 1 5 - 16 CTPA Amateur Cup Two Wishes, Lockhart, TX M A Y 16 Officers Cup Houston, Houston, TX M A Y 19 - J U N E 6 Pete Bostwick Memorial (8) New Bridge, Aiken, SC MAY 20-23 Tumbleweed Showdown Midland, Midland, TX
Gen. George S. Patton Jr. (2) San Antonio, San Antonio, TX Congressional Cup (4) Cerro Pampa, Petaluma, CA MAY 22-JUNE 6 USPA Players Cup (4) Aiken, Aiken, SC MAY 25-JUNE 6 USPA Masters Cup Midland, Midland, TX MAY 26 Rules and Safety Clinic Southampton, Watermill, NY MAY 27-JUNE 6 Masters Cup (6) Midland, Midland, TX MAY 28-30 Gen. George S. Patton Jr. (6) Point Clear, Silverhill, AL M A Y 2 8 - 31 Gen. George S. Patton Jr. (6) Prestonwood, Oak Point, TX MAY 28-JUNE 6 Vic Graber Cup (12) Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA MAY 29-30 Adm. Chester W. Nimitz (3) Poway, Poway, CA USPA Governors Cup (2) New Orleans, Folsom, LA
CALENDAR
June CTPA ATX Cup (2) Two Wishes, Lockhart, TX MAY 30-JUNE 6 Constitution Cup (4) Roseland, Crozet, VA JUNE 1-30 Arena Chairman’s Cup (12) 4- to 6-goal League 8-goal League Great Meadow, The Plains, VA JUNE 2-6 Rosemary Cup (10) Willow Bend, Little Elm, TX J U N E 2 - 13 Stissing Cup (4) Mashomack, Pine Plains, NY J U N E 2 - J U L Y 14 Summer League (4) Southampton, Watermill, NY JUNE 4-5 Masters Cup (4) Cerro Pampa, Petaluma, CA JUNE 4-6 I/I Alumni Tournament (3) Garrison Forest, Owings Mills, MD JUNE 5 South of Zero Cup Play Polo, Westerville, OH Belmont Stakes Cup (6) Prestonwood, Oak Point, TX JUNE 5-6 Carpathia Cup New Orleans, Folsom, LA CTPA Allied Services Cup (5) Texas Military, Poteet, TX JUNE 6 Joseph Poor & Stan Bradford Cup Myopia, South Hamilton, MA NYTS Houston, Houston, TX J U N E 7 - 13 Tommy Hitchcock Memorial (8) New Bridge, Aiken, SC
J U N E 8 - J U LY 2 2 Independence Cup (8) Southampton, Watermill, NY
J U N E 19 Texas Polo Cup (4) Dallas, Red Oak, TX
J U N E 10 - 13 Spring Finale Midland, Midland, TX
J U N E 19 - 2 0 Father’s Day Matches New Orleans, Folsom, LA
J U N E 11 - 1 3 Women’s Challenge (10) Roseland, Crozet, VA
JUNE 20 C.G. Rice Cup Myopia, South Hamilton, MA
USPA Gen. Brown (6) Willow Bend, Little Elm, TX J U N E 11 - 2 0 USPA Intra-Circuit (12) Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, CA JUNE 12 NYTS Giant Valley, Hamden, CT Stella Chalice Trophy Farmington, Farmington, CT J U N E 12 - 13 NOPC Summer Classic New Orleans, Folsom, LA J U N E 1 2 - 19 Patriot Cup (6) Prestonwood, Oak Point, TX J U N E 13 Neil Ayer Cup Myopia, South Hamilton, MA J U N E 13 - 2 7 Argentina Cup Play Polo, Westerville, OH J U N E 16 - J U L Y 4 Officers Cup (8) Mashomack, Pine Plains, NY J U N E 16 - J U L Y 5 USPA Officers Cup (8) Mashomack, Pine Plains, NY
JUNE 20-27 David L. King Memorial (4) Roseland, Crozet, VA JUNE 23-26 Masters Cup (8) Farmington, Farmington, CT J U N E 2 4 - J U LY 3 Congressional Cup (6) Chicago International, Oswego, IL JUNE 25-27 Oak Point Cup (4) Willow Bend, Little Elm, TX J U N E 2 5 - J U LY 4 Intra-Circuit Cup (12) Arranmore, Oswego, IL JUNE 26 22nd International Polo Challenge Mashomack, Pine Plains, NY JUNE 26-27 Centennial Cup (0) Sugarbush, North Ferrisburg, VT JUNE 27 Agassiz Club Cup (2) Myopia, South Hamilton, MA Dallas Symphony Cup (6) Prestonwood, Oak Point, TX J U N E 3 0 - J U LY 3 Arena Constitution Cup (3) Triangle, Hurdle Mills, NC
J U N E 18 - 2 0 Arena Women’s Challenge (8) Seneca, Poolesville, MD Willow Bend Cup (6) Willow Bend, Little Elm, TX J U N E 18 - J U LY 2 Arena Delegates Cup (9) Brandywine, Toughkenamon, PA
Note: All dates are subject to change. “USPA” refers to tournaments sponsored or sanctioned by the United States Polo Association. Signifies prize money available.
POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N 61
Y E S T E RY E A R S
Great indoors Popularity of arena polo surges in 1930
Squadron A Armory in Manhattan offered plenty of space for spectators. Games were held on Saturday nights.
Indoor polo enjoys a unique place in American sport. Historically, it is the oldest form of the galloping game in the United States. Practically, indoor polo is a game of such obvious advantages for the lover of polo that it is small wonder it has grown with such tremendous leaps and bounds. Every student of sport knows that polo was first played indoors in this country. The game was brought here from England by the late James Gordon Bennett, sportsman and publisher par excellence, who introduced the game early in 1876 at Dickels Riding Academy, which once stood at Fifth Avenue and 38th Street, now the site of towering skyscrapers.
62 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Indoor polo, then, is by no means a new game, though it is true that its widespread popularity is rather recent. And yet, it was inevitable that a game so keen, so readily available even for city dwellers, so comparatively inexpensive, so thrilling alike for players and spectators could not long remain in the background. Indoor polo has many advantages all its own. It is a game that captures enthusiasms and holds them enthralled. It is a game that will ever hold a high place in the heart of a sport-loving nation. How competent it is as polo many be gathered from the fact that half of the International team that played against England at Meadow Brook in 1930 was
Y E S T E RY E A R S
composed of players who owe much of their success to the training they received indoors: Mr. Winston Guests and Mr. Earle A.S. Hopping. Harry Disston observed that more clubs have joined the national governing body—the Indoor Polo Association of the United States—more men are playing and, with the encouragement offered last year, even the preparatory school boys have taken up the game. The pace has increased, handicaps have been raised, more and better ponies have been added to the indoor strings, more outdoor players have turned to the indoor game, and public attendance at the weekly matches during the early season is remarkably large. Most noteworthy during the 1930 season of play in the indoor game was the increased pace at which high-goal action has gone. It was rather generally agreed that the play in Class A (15 goals and over) during the season of 1929-30 was faster and harder than ever before in the history of the game. The Metropolitan Polo League was introduced, embracing nine of the high-goal teams and players that had been galloping in the Saturday night matches at Squadron A Armory, New York’s polo center able to cater to a large number of spectators. The games were played with a handicap allowance and a league standing was maintained. Each of the trios played in Class A on the basis of their team handicaps, which averaged 15 goals. The Saturday evenings at Squadron A customarily had 12 periods played: first a Class D (0 to 4 goals) match, then a Class B (10 to 14 goals) match, and finally, a league match. Previously, the custom had been to play two 10 minute periods in handicap Classes C (5 to 9 goals) and D, however after determining that two periods, even for less experienced players, was hardly enough and two mounts could easily carry one through four periods, the matches were changed to four 7½-minute periods. As the most notable of the exponents of speed and pace, The Optimist Club of New York played through a very full season without once suffering defeat, one of the most remarkable achievements that polo has seen and a feat that would be outstanding in any sport. Mr. Winston Guest, playing his first season as the highest-handicapped man the sport has yet seen, a 10-goal player, was the organizer and dominating
The Optimists’ Michael Phipps, Winston Guest and Lt. McDonald Jones won the Open and the Class A tournaments.
figure on this Optimist team, but he received magnificent support and aid from Lt. McDonald Jones of the Army and from two different forwards during the course of the season, Mr. Raymond Guest and Mr. Michael Phipps. The National Championships were noteworthy for
Better ponies were added to the indoor strings. Robert Granniss’ Juan was champion of the 1929 indoor polo pony show.
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Visiting teams were usually mounted by the home team. The horses were pooled with each team playing six horses half the game then switching strings.
more than the dominance of the high-goal sections by The Optimists. Most gratifying was the success with which Cleveland, paying its first visit to the championships, met in taking the Class C title back with them as well as making a determined bid for Class B and Class D honors. Except for larger tournaments, it is not the custom to ship horses. A team invited to play in a neighboring city will be offered six mounts for the game. The practice curtails expenses and in many instances where a distant trip is involved, is the only means of arranging a varied schedule. Riding strange ponies is always a disadvantage, however fairness is achieved by pooling mounts. The home team provides 12 ponies, which are divided into two groups of six. Each team plays one group for the first two periods, then the ponies are exchanged to be used by the opposing side for the last two periods. The championships were played in two of the playing structures of Greater New York, the large entry list making it necessary to play some of the 64 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
games in the ring of the 101st Cavalry Armory in Brooklyn in addition to those at the Squadron A arena, scene of the championships for the past several years. The three-year reign of the Brooklyn Riding and Driving Club team as the Open Champion combination was broken by the remarkable Optimist side and this trio, in winning Class A, was the only champion of 1929 to cling to its laurels in the tournaments so successfully held during the closing days of March and the start of April. In every other class, new and interesting champions were made. Class B was won by Fort Hamilton (Capt. Kelly Wise, Lt. H.W. Kifer, Capt. D.M. Scott). W.H. Zink, Capt. C. Radcliff and W.H. White brought home the Class C Championship for Cleveland Polo Club, while H.H. McConnell, P.D. Ash and J. P. Graham won the Class D Championship for Ramapo Valley Polo Club. Princeton University (Leonard Firestone, John Lemp, William H. Post III) won the Intercollegiate Championships, while Lawrenceville School (L.B. Ruthrauff, F. B. Joy, William Davery) won the Interscholastic Championships. A significant development during the season was the growth of play among school teams, resulting in what was a really remarkable exhibition of play in the Nationals with schoolboy teams not only from the eastern seaboard, but with representation from the middle west in the smart team of the Culver Military Academy. Another most interesting event during the past season was the appearance, for the first time in history, of a team from Argentina in an indoor ring. True, the game was played purely and simply for the fun of it when the team led by Mr. Manual Andrada passed through New York on its way back from California triumphs, but it may well be a fore-runner of more formal meetings between two countries where the game of polo has become so strong a branch of sport. Alfredo Harrington, Jose Reynal and Mr. Andrada played against Earle W. Hopping, Earle A.S. Hopping and A. Charles Schwartz, the visitors doing remarkably well for their first chance indoors. With the coming of Earle A.S. Hopping to the indoor game, together with the most welcome return of his father, it is interesting to note that two of the members of the International team which defeated England at Meadow Brook are to be numbered among the prominent figures of the indoor game, Mr. Guest and the younger Mr. Hopping again having been chosen for places in the team during the past summer. •
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